FIFA and adidas celebrate women's football

Berlin/Herzogenaurach, June 28, 2006 - The Match Ball for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup? has been officially unveiled at the Women's Football Day at the adidas World of Football in Berlin. adidas Brand President and CEO Erich Stamminger and FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter handed over the new match ball to the General Secretary of the Organizing Committee Nan Yong and Chinese football star and FIFA Ambassador Sun Wen.

"Women's football continues to expand its size, its participation, recognition and audience around the globe. At adidas we are firmly dedicated to supporting women's football and to developing products that allow female players to further enhance their performance. We are already looking forward to the FIFA Women's World Cup? in China next year," commented Erich Stamminger, President and CEO of the adidas brand.

The Match Ball for the FIFA Women's World Cup China 2007 will feature the same performance characteristics as the adidas +Teamgeist, the Match Ball of the FIFA World Cup 2006. The revolutionary 14-panel ball construction brings down the number of three-panel touch points by 60% (from 60 to 24) and the total length of the panel lines is reduced by over 15% (from 400.05 cm to 333.93 cm) and will now also provide the world's best female players with significant improvements in both accuracy and control. The design is inspired by the event logo and the traditional Chinese colors red and blue. The Match Ball of the FIFA Women's World Cup China 2007 will be available in retail from 2007 onwards.

Women's football is on the rise worldwide. FIFA and adidas, the global leader in football, are firmly committed to contribute to the further development of this beautiful sport wherever it is being played, shared and celebrated. adidas will be the Official Partner, Official Supplier & Official Licensee of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup? and will equip some of the world's best teams such as reigning FIFA World Cup Champion Germany and host China. 

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For more information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact:
Ellen Peacock
Regional Communication Manager
Tel: +971-4-227 3303
Fax: +971-4-222 6675
Email: ellen.peacock@adidas.ae

Sue Parry / Anoushka Misra
ASDA'A Public Relations
+971-4-3344550
+971-4-3344556
info@asdaa.com

© Press Release 2006