On January 21st Continental AG set the seal on its participation as an official partner of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The agreement was signed by Joseph S. Blatter, President of FIFA, and Manfred Wennemer, Chairman of the Executive Board of Continental AG – in the presence of Franz Beckenbauer, the President of the Organising Committee of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ and other guests from sports, business and politics – at the Technology Center in Hanover-Stöcken.Wennemer emphasised that this agreement documented Continental’s ongoing involvement in a sport that links and thrills millions of people. Football is the game that attracts more attention than any other sport in Europe and – as demonstrated during last year’s world championship in Japan and South Korea – also worldwide. He was sure that the world championship in 2006 would be the outstanding sporting event of this decade in Germany. Its commitment as an official partner of FIFA would provide Continental with an unparalleled marketing platform in all international markets.Continental is one of 15 partners involved in global sponsorship. Additionally, there are six national sponsorships for the 2006 World Cup. And the sponsorship is not only targeted at consumers but also internally, as Continental says the move will motivate its own associates.