As selection trials get underway for 2006, Aviva announced its continued support and sponsorship of the Aviva Ballkids at the Australian Open.
As selection trials get underway for 2006, Aviva announced its continued support and sponsorship of the Aviva Ballkids at the Australian Open.
The new four-year deal sees Aviva develop and enhance its sponsorship of the Aviva Ballkids in 2005 - which was the first corporate sponsorship of the ballkids at the Grand Slam tennis tournament.
Aviva will use the sponsorship to further develop its international brand recognition during next year's, and future, Australian Open tournaments.
Aviva's chief executive officer, Allan Griffiths said: "Our ongoing sponsorship of the Aviva Ballkids is in recognition of the excellent coverage the Australian Open receives and the opportunity it provides to promote Aviva worldwide.
"The 2005 Australian Open was such a dynamic event and Aviva is pleased to be involved with a group of young people who contribute so much to making the Grand Slam tournament one of the world's premier sporting attractions.
"Aviva's partnership with the Australian Open is a strong fit for each organisation as we both look to continually grow and develop in our chosen markets, " said Allan.
The Australian Open annually attracts over half a million visitors through the gates for the two week Grand Slam tournament in January making it one of the world's biggest sporting events.
A record 4,206 hours of action were broadcast from the 2005 tournament to 202 territories across the globe reaching 443 million homes. Asia was the dominant market with 46% of the total hours of coverage, followed by Europe.
Australian Open chief executive, Paul McNamee said: "The Australian Open has become an entertainment festival and our Aviva Ballkids are a huge part of the show.
"It is great to have a major international company such as Aviva on board with the Australian Open for the next four years which will bring additional benefits for this dynamic and motivated group of youngsters and their families."
As part of their sponsorship, parents of the Aviva Ballkids at the 2005 tournament received over $5 million in free life insurance from Aviva in recognition of the role the whole family makes in helping support their child's desire to be an Aviva Ballkid at the Grand Slam tournament.
In 2005, the 312 Aviva Ballkids were selected from several thousand applicants, including an international contingent of 36 Aviva Ballkids from Korea, New Zealand, China, Thailand and India underlining the Australian Open's developing role as the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific.
A similar number of 12-14 year olds from Australia and the Asia / Pacific region will be given the opportunity to be Aviva Ballkids at the 2006 tournament with selection trials already underway.