BNP Paribas, one of the leading European banks located in over 80 countries, took over as title sponsor of Davis Cup from 2002. This is a milestone for Davis Cup and furthers the bank's tradition of partnership with major tennis competitions. BNP Paribas has sponsored Roland Garros for 29 years; this successful relationship is one of the longest in history and will be continued. BNP Paribas also sponsors other tennis events in France and internationally.
BNP Paribas and the ITF have also agreed a partnership for the World Youth Cup which has been re-branded in 2002 as "Junior Davis Cup by BNP Paribas". The Junior Davis Cup is the premier international team competition for aspiring tennis stars at the Boys' 16 & Under level and involves qualifying events all over the world culminating in a final week. In the 2002 Final, at La Baule, France, the Spanish boys defeated the Americans in the final. By re-branding the competition to mirror the senior event, the stars of tomorrow will get the chance to sample the unique atmosphere of Davis Cup at an early stage in their career.
"Davis Cup has found an outstanding title sponsor in BNP Paribas whose enthusiasm and support have further enhanced the worldwide reputation of the Davis Cup competition," said Francesco Ricci Bitti, President of the ITF. "The relationship between BNP Paribas and Davis Cup has been very successful in its initial years and we look forward to a long and successful partnership."
Commenting on this agreement, M. Pébereau, Chairman of the Board and CEO of BNP Paribas, said : "Our worldwide partnership with the Davis Cup is providing a new dimension to our sponsorship activity, which reflects our group's ambitions. BNP Paribas is glad to strengthen its association with the performance and fair-value of this universal sport, and to expand it to the Junior Davis Cup, an international sport event which should reveal the future champions".
For the final of the 2002 competition, which takes place this weekend between France and Russia, Paris is sporting the colours of "Davis Cup by BNP Paribas" with over 350 billboards in the streets of the capital. The event is also covered by the entire BNP Paribas network showing posters in its 2200 retail branches and displaying the reproduction of the Davis Cup Trophy in the entrance of 12 of its main retail branches in the Paris Ile de France region.
Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the largest, annual international team competition in sport with 142 nations entered in 2002 and again in 2003.
Further information on BNP Paribas and tennis (dates, results, new events, etc.) is available on a fully dedicated website : www.tennis.bnpparibas.com.
BNP Paribas tennis sponsorship
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Notes to editors :
BNP Paribas is an international financial services group, with solid roots in Europe, leading positions in Asia and an active presence in the United States. It is the first bank in terms of net income and market capitalisation in the Euro zone. BNP Paribas has one of the largest international banking networks, present in 86 countries with 85,000 employees, including 65,000 in Europe. The group has three core businesses: Corporate and Investment Banking; Private Banking, Asset Management, Securities Services and Insurance; Retail Banking.