As selection trials get underway for 2006, Aviva today announced its continued support and sponsorship of the Aviva Ballkids at the Australian Open.
As selection trials get underway for 2006, Aviva today 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.
This weekend alone (28 and 29 May) will see over 630 youngsters try out at Melbourne Park in the hope of progressing to the next stage of the selection process.
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You are invited to send a cameraman / reporter / photographer to the Aviva Ballkid selection trials on the indoor courts, Melbourne Park, from 11am – 12 noon on Sunday 29 May.
For further media information please contact:
Simon Morgan
Group General Manager Public Affairs
Phone: (03) 9829 8892
Mobile: 0407 966 632
Or
John Lindsay
Media and PR Manager
Tennis Australia
Phone (03) 9272 1022
Mobile: 0413 240171
Notes to editors:
- Aviva Australia is a group of two specialist financial services companies: Navigator Australia Limited and Norwich Union Life Australia Limited. Portfolio Partners Limited is the Australian funds management arm of Aviva plc. Through these companies we provide products and services in the areas of wealth management and wealth protection for more than 300,000 customers throughout Australia.
- Globally, Aviva Australia is part of Aviva plc, the world’s sixth largest insurance group, the largest insurer in the UK and one of the top five life companies in Europe. Aviva was formed in May 2000 through the global merger of CGU plc and Norwich Union plc.
- Aviva is a leading provider of life and pensions products to Europe and has substantial businesses elsewhere around the world. Its main activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance. It has premium income and investment sales from continuing operations of A$74 billion, and more than A$592 billion of assets under management (as at 17January 2005). The group has more than 51,000 employees and 30 million customers worldwide.
- The information given in this document is of a general nature and has not taken into account the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person and it is not a substitute for professional advice. Applications to invest in a financial product issued by Navigator, or any of its related entities, must be made by completing the application form attached to the applicable Product Disclosure Statement ("PDS"). A PDS is available from Navigator or your financial adviser. Before making an investment decision on the basis of the information above, a prospective investor needs to consider, with or without the assistance of a professional adviser whether the information is appropriate in the light of their particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances. Aviva does not receive any remuneration in relation to the provision of information available from this press release which is of a general nature only.