Škoda the Official Main Sponsor of the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia

MLADÁ BOLESLAV, CZECH REPUBLIC – May 3, 2011: For the 19th time in a row, Škoda is the official main sponsor of the annual IIHF World Championship this year. When the 16 best ice hockey nations of the world meet in Slovakia from April 29th to May 15th, the Czech automobile manufacturer will be as present as never before: Whether it’s the Škoda fleet for officials and guests consisting of 40 vehicles or the placement of the company logo on the ice, banners as well as jerseys and helmets of a total of five teams or actions in the stadiums and on the Internet: Škoda leaves its mark at this world championship. A strong appearance that is expressed very succinctly – not least due to the new corporate design, which will be presented to millions of TV viewers for the first time.

“Our commitment to the sport of ice hockey is a central pillar in our sponsoring strategy and makes a strong contribution to the name, recognition and image of the Škoda brand in the international markets. We are proud of having been able to actively support one of the most important international sports events for so many years,” emphasizes Jürgen Stackmann, the Škoda board member for Sales and Marketing, pointing towards the long-term partnership, for which the manufacturer has even received recognition with a Guinness World Record for the “longest-lasting main sponsorship in the history of sports world championships”. “The fact that the IIHF World Championship will take place in Slovakia for the first time this year is something special for us, of course, because as a Czech brand we have deep roots in our neighboring country. Moreover, the 56 matches of the world championship in Bratislava and Košice are a perfect opportunity to present our new corporate design to an audience of millions of people worldwide for the first time,” said Stackmann.

The sponsoring activities by the Czech manufacturer are expressed in a wide variety of ways: First of all, during the world championship a Škoda fleet consisting of 40 vehicles is on the road around the Slovak stadiums and in other towns. 33 Yeti SUVs and seven Superb station wagons support the mobility of officials and guests. At every game, the new ŠKODA logo can be seen at the center circle of the ice rinks as well as on the banners. Also, a total of five national teams exhibit the Škoda logo on their jerseys and helmets when they’re on the ice: Škoda teams up with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, Norway, and Slovenia. Furthermore, the current models of the manufacturer are presented in the arenas.