Emirates first to sign as a partner of RWC 2011
The IRB Rugby World Cup Board announced on the 26 September in New Zealand that Emirates Airline, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has become the first worldwide partner of IRB Rugby World Cup 2011. Emirates will be the official airline for the Tournament, to be held in New Zealand for the first time since the inaugural event in 1987.
Rugby World Cup Chairman, Bernard Lapasset, said (quote)We are delighted to have the renowned international aviation company Emirates Airline on board as a worldwide partner for Rugby World Cup 2011. The tournament is now one of the largest sporting events in the world and its prestige is clearly highlighted by the involvement of blue chip companies such as Emirates. Furthermore, it is pleasing that we will be in partnership with a company that has a long-standing history of supporting the game. Emirates is the official sponsor of the IRB international match officials and it was an official tournament sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2007 in France. For 2011 the company has strengthened its commitment to the Tournament by becoming a Worldwide Partner. Emirates Airline’s commitment to Rugby is also evident from its existing sponsorship programmes that include the London, Edinburgh, George and Dubai Sevens tournaments - which are part of the IRB Sevens World Series. It is also the team sponsor of the Samoa and England National Sevens teams, and Australian Super 14 team Western Force.(end quote)
Emirates is currently building a state of the art rugby venue in Dubai which will host the Rugby World Cup Sevens next year. The Airline is also a major player in sports sponsorship around the world and are now a sponsor of three important world cups, with Rugby World Cup 2011, FIFA World Cup 2010 and ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
Emirates will be able to offer an easy route for rugby fans around the world to travel to New Zealand, with the only drawback possibly being routed via Dubai.