Yachting Australia has signed a long term sponsorship deal with apparel manufacturer SLAM which will see Australian sailors wearing the brand until the 2012 London Olympic Games. The new agreement was described as a major step forward for Australia's leading Olympic class sailors and encompasses the Australian Sailing Team, Australian Paralympic Sailing Team, Australian Sailing Development Squad, OAMPS Australian Youth Sailing Team, coaches and staff.
The multi-million dollar deal will be driven by SLAM Australia and New Zealand with backing and support by SLAM S.p.A Head Office in Genoa, Italy. The Australian Sailing Team will join SLAM's current high profile teams including Russell Coutts and the BMW Oracle America's Cup Racing Team.
SLAM Australia and New Zealand's managing director Anthony Young says that the Australian Sailing Team's reputation and strong performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games made the team attractive to the company. “The Australian Sailing Team has become a name synonymous with success in
Olympic class sailing and the team's results in recent years made them an ideal choice for SLAM to go forward with,” said Mr Young. “We see the next four years as an important time of growth for SLAM both in Australia and around the world and believe that our involvement with the Australia Sailing Team will be integral to that growth,” he said.
The agreement will see SLAM become the exclusive clothing supplier and major co-sponsor of the Australian Sailing Team with branding to appear on the hull and sails of Australian Sailing Team boats, along with logos on team uniforms and an online presence.
SLAM is developing a new range of world class dinghy technical clothing with athletes from the Australian Sailing Team to be integral to the development and testing of the new products.
Yachting Australia High Performance Director Peter Conde says that the deal with SLAM will play a key role in the team's preparation for the 2012 London Olympic Games. “The Australian Sailing Team is thrilled to begin what we are sure is going to be a highly successful, long term relationship in the lead up to the London Olympics,” said Mr Conde.”In these economic times the agreement with SLAM, who join current major supporters Audi and Hamilton Island, lends weight to our view that sailing provides sponsors with terrific value opportunities in a relatively clean environment.”
For the first time, a range of SLAM designed merchandising apparel and accessories will allow fans of the Australian Sailing Team to show their support of the team, with profits from the sale of each item assisting the Gold Medal drive in London 2012.
