DHL Express International Americas: Supporting Sports in Latin America

PLANTATION, Fla., Dec. 13, 2006 -- Juan Caceres drove one of the world's fastest cars -- a Formula 1 race car -- during a test he conducted on a circuit in Italy. On another continent, Ivan Vallejo climbed to reach the summits of 14 of the planet's tallest mountains. At the same time, Fernando Gonzalez-Rubio would become the first Colombian to climb Mount Everest.

What do these athletes have in common? The courage to go further, the will to compete and attempt to become the best in their disciplines. These are the same traits we have at DHL Express International Americas, the world's leading express delivery and logistics company. This is precisely why we not only support Caceres, Vallejo, and Gonzalez-Rubio, but also other high-profile sports figures and events on this continent.

DHL's support for sports in Latin America takes place within a wide program of incentives, developed by the giant in the logistics and express transportation industry. The program includes the sponsorship of the 4th Annual Premios Fox Sports Awards, which honor the region's top athletes each year.

"Premios Fox Sports is the most visible tip of this iceberg. Our sports programs are not limited to highlighting top athletes in our region, we also provide support and incentives to various types of DHL sports activities in countries throughout the region," said Roger Crook, CEO of DHL Express International Americas.

For Ecuadorian mountaineer Vallejo, DHL has been one of the sponsors helping him reach his goal of climbing the world's 14 highest mountains. Vallejo -- one of the world's top mountaineers -- has reached 12 summits out of his 14 objectives. He still has two more to go -- Dhaulagiri at 26,795 feet (8,167 meters), and Annapurna at 26,545 feet (8,091 meters) -- both of which are in Nepal.

Similarly, Uruguayan driver Caceres, who has successfully participated in various European car racing championships, is sponsored by DHL. In this same country, the company also supports basketball league team Hebraica y Macabi, and it will be one of the main sponsors in two beach volleyball tournaments to take place in January 2007 in Uruguay.

Colombian mountaineer Gonzalez-Rubio is another one of the athletes favored by DHL. A financial contribution and technology resources will help him become the first mountaineer from his country to climb Mount Everest, in addition to having climbed K2, considered the most difficult peak to climb on the entire planet.

"Just as in sports, DHL believes that in order to stay among the best, we have to give the best of ourselves everyday and reach carefully-planned goals. I believe that this is one of the secrets that have enabled us to become global leaders in express delivery," added Crook.

With the organization 'Fundacion Flexer,' DHL Argentina participated in a marathon to raise funds for a children's hospital. Over 600 competitors participated, including dozens of DHL's employees in this country. DHL's grand prize is to fly the winner of the marathon to Miami to attend the 4th Annual Premios Fox Sports awards show to be held on December 14th 2006.

In Costa Rica, the bicycle marathon "DHL Guana Ride 2006" was organized, which involves a 350-kilometer (217.5 miles) mountain cycling competition where over 230 international and local athletes participated.

Along with the entire planet, DHL and its parent company Deutsche Post World Net (DPWN) also celebrated the development of the Soccer World Cup, organizing its own international tournament in Germany -- the 2006 DPWN's World Sports Event -- with the participation of 25 teams, made up of more than 2,220 company employees of various nationalities and offices in different countries, including the DHL Express International Americas soccer team. It is also important to highlight that Post Bank, which is part of the DPWN family, was one of the main sponsors of the World Cup.

According to DHL Express International Americas' executives, efforts from these athletes are similar to the company's philosophy to promote precision, speed, trust, teamwork and perseverance.