Gazprom partners with UEFA National Team Football and renews UEFA Champions League sponsorship
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
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The deal will see Gazprom sponsor the next two UEFA EUROs as well as continuing as a UEFA Champions League partner for the 2021-24 cycle.
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Gazprom, which has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with the UEFA Champions League since 2012, is now building on its successful association with UEFA by signing a further sponsorship agreement to become a UEFA National Team Football sponsor until 2024.
Gazprom will now have partnership rights for UEFA EURO 2020 and UEFA EURO 2024, the European Qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2024, in certain markets and the UEFA Nations League finals in 2021 and 2023.
Aside from the UEFA Champions League, Gazprom's renewed three-year agreement as a UEFA club competitions partner will also include sponsorship rights for the UEFA Super Cup, the UEFA Champions League futsal finals and the UEFA Youth League finals from 2021 until 2024.
“Gazprom has proved over the years to be one of our most trusted partners and we are delighted to be welcoming them as a UEFA National Team Football sponsor for the first time, while we are equally thrilled they will continue their partnership with the world’s greatest club competition – the UEFA Champions League, for another three years,” said UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein.
“Not only is Gazprom a leader in its field, it also has a long heritage in football and were are looking forward to working even closer together over the coming years, such as through Gazprom’s Football for Friendship programme, which helps give youngsters valuable life skills.”
As part of the build-up to the UEFA EURO, Saint Petersburg, where Gazprom’s headquarters is based, will have the honour of hosting the latest leg of the UEFA EURO 2020 trophy tour from 21-22 May. Saint Petersburg will host seven matches over the course of this summer’s tournament.
“For many years, Gazprom has been a reliable UEFA partner and an active member of the international football community. By supporting the UEFA EURO and other UEFA competitions, we hope we will can help to successfully hold these tournaments in such a challenging time,” said Aleksey Miller, the Chairman of PJSC Gazprom’s Management Committee.
“In addition, the signing of the agreement opens up new opportunities for implementing our large-scale social initiatives, such as the international children’s programme Football for Friendship and a number of other events for the fans. Congratulations to all members of our big football family!”
Uniting friends – uniting the world
Through the Football for Friendship programme, which was established by Gazprom in 2013 and serves to promote key human values for youngsters, Gazprom will hold a number of dedicated activities in the lead-up to, and during the UEFA Champions League final and UEFA EURO 2020.
The specially created Football for Friendship International News Bureau will provide aspiring journalists aged 12 to 14 with the possibility to report on the tournament from their native countries. Meanwhile, youngsters from over 200 countries will take part in the 2021 Football for Friendship eWorld Championship, with the finals be broadcasted on the day of the UEFA Champions League final on 29 May.
The programme, which has been running for over eight years, has brought over 15,000 participants from 211 countries and regions together, and has received over 60 awards in the field of social responsibility, sports, and communications, including two GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ for the most nationalities in a football training session on the planet and the most users on a football/soccer video hangout in the world. The values of the Football for Friendship are peace, friendship, equality, health, victory, traditions, devotion, fairness, and honour.
A football first
As part of the UEFA National Team sponsorship agreement, Gazprom will provide a prize for the best goal scored at UEFA EURO 2020. The player will receive the first ever NFT (non-fungible token) trophy for the goal of the tournament – which has been created by a famous Russian artist. The tournament’s name, the key values of the Football for Friendship programme, and the name of the trophy winner will be coded into the trophy.