August 26, 2004 - adidas officially presented the new Finale, the Official Match Ball of the UEFA Champions League, at the group draw for the upcoming UEFA Champions League in Monaco.

With the fourth generation of the exclusive UEFA Champions League ball, adidas provides Europe's best teams with a thermally bonded ball that allows them to utilize their skills to the fullest. The new Power Balance Technology and an inspiring design, which is rooted in the well-known UEFA starball logo, ensure that the new ball is one homogenous unit. The new mission red colored adidas Finale is available globally at a wide range of outlets at a retail price of around 110.

The major improvement of the new Finale is the Power Balance Technology with the following features:

Novel panel design - superior PU surface plus highly resilient foam for better ball control and explosive response.

Thermal bonded panels: a new technology which replaces traditional hand stitching, thus creating a smoother, seamless surface for increased accuracy, water resistance and durability.

Innovative carcass technology: a new lamination technique for optimal balance and most consistent quality properties.

High-grade natural latex bladder for optimal rebound characteristics.

Overall, the fourth generation of the Finale offers better control and rebound characteristics than ever before as well as increased water resistance, accuracy and durability. The new technology was first introduced with the adidas Roteiro?, the Official Match Ball of UEFA EURO 2004?, which has become the world's best-selling football ever.

adidas is part of the adidas-Salomon Group and has been the world's leading football brand since the days when founder Adi Dassler made his first pair of football boots well over 80 years ago. Besides its Official Suppliership to the UEFA Champions League?, adidas has supplied the Official Match Balls to all major UEFA and FIFA tournaments since 1970 and will also be the Official Supplier of the Match Ball to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games? and the 2006 FIFA World Cup?. Moreover, adidas has partnerships with many of the world's top football clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Mnchen, Ajax Amsterdam, AC Milan or Panathinaikos Athens.

-Ends-

For more information please visit www.press.adidas.com or contact adidas Global PR:

Thomas van Schaik Dorothee Kurz
Tel.: +49 (0)9132 84 3228 +49 (0)9132 84 4043
Mobile: +49 (0)1608 84 3228 +49 (0)1608 84 4043
Fax: +49 (0)9132 84 2455 +49 (0)9132 84 2455
E-mail: thomas.schaikvan@adidas.de dorothee.kurz@adidas.de

© Press Release 2004