‘Weltmeister’ at Last – Thanks to Conti

Germany’s World Cup aspirations may have crumbled in a one-nil defeat at the deft and athletic hands of Spain in July, but the country has nevertheless gone on to achieve its own global football victory. On September 19, some two months after the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa drew to a close, the men’s team from Continental’s Korbach factory in the German province of Hesse emerged victorious in the ContiTeamCup 2010 after defeating Brazil by three goals to nil. In the women’s league Germany had to settle for second place, however, following a one-nil loss to Mexico.

“As official partner of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, we wanted to establish a connection within our company as well with the ContiTeamCup. And in the process, we not only enjoyed some thrilling matches but – much more importantly – we brought players from different plants and from different countries together,” commented Heinz Gerhard Wente, the Executive Board member in charge of human resources who supported the teams on-site.

Alongside the trophies, the two World Champion teams also receive 15,000 euros, which Conti notes will be used “for a good cause” at their respective locations. The two finals, held in Continental’s home town of Hanover, Germany, represented the culmination of the largest sporting event in the company’s corporate history. When the ContiTeamCup competition got under way a year ago, over 100 teams from all around the world responded to the appeal to employees to take part. The ContiTeamCup 2009/2010 was run the same way as the tournament held four years earlier. All Conti locations were eligible to enter women’s and men’s teams. Teams played each other first at a local level, then at national level and finally at group level. The winners of these group matches advanced to the final round in Hanover. The qualification games were played between April 2009 and June 2010.