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THE COUNTDOWN STARTS FOR THE 2002 FIFA WORLD CUP KOREA/JAPAN AND THE LAUNCH OF NINTENDO GAMECUBE
SUNNYVALE, Calif. and LONDON - April 22, 2002 -- Nintendo, which launches its next-generation home console, the Nintendo GameCube, across Europe on May 3, is sponsoring the Official Website of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ - FIFAworldcup.com.
The global programme, established between Nintendo, Yahoo! Inc., the producer and commercial marketer of FIFAworldcup.com, and Fédération International de Football Association (FIFA), the world governing body of football, is primarily focused at consumers across Europe through FIFAworldcup.com, and will run during the build up to the European launch of Nintendo GameCube and throughout the FIFA World Cup™.
Through the agreement, fans across Europe accessing FIFAworldcup.com will see Nintendo sponsoring two of the most popular features on FIFAworldcup.com.
A Nintendo GameCube "countdown" timer will be featured alongside the Official Countdown Clock to the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ and will countdown the seconds to the May 3rd launch of Nintendo's latest groundbreaking home console. Nintendo is also sponsoring the Entertainment section of the site, which includes an interactive Game Zone, the Mascot Zone micro-site, Download Central, and the Official Music of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Nintendo will also have branding visibility through various multi-media advertising units across the FIFAworldcup.com and media exposure across a number of Yahoo!'s European-based World properties, including Yahoo! UK, Yahoo! Germany, Yahoo! France and Yahoo! Spain.
"We are extremely pleased that Nintendo has chosen FIFAworldcup.com as a vehicle to promote the launch of GameCube across Europe," said Randy Bernstein, vice president, Yahoo!-FIFA World Cup relationship. "By focusing on a European audience, Nintendo's global sponsorship package on FIFAworldcup.com truly leverages the Internet's unparalleled ability to directly target an audience geographically. FIFAworldcup.com's Entertainment section contains some of the site's most compelling areas, and is a natural and relevant tie to potential Nintendo customers."
Comments Franco De Cesare, head of marketing, Nintendo of Europe:
"May is going to be an historic month for games and sports fans across Europe. Nintendo GameCube launches on the 3rd, while the FIFA World Cup starts on the 31st.
"The sponsorship is a perfect fit for us as the tension builds to the launch of the years most anticipated games console, the Nintendo GameCube, and the years most talked about sporting event, the 2002 FIFA World Cup."
Nintendo GameCube launches on 3rd May 2002 and expected to retail at 249 euros. It launches with over 20 software titles, including 2002 FIFA World Cup from EA Sports.
The sponsorship package was negotiated and managed by StarCom Motive in London.
About Nintendo Co.
Nintendo Co., Ltd. of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than one billion video games worldwide, created such industry icons as Mario™ and Donkey Kong™ and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda™ and Pokémon™. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems, including the Nintendo® 64, Nintendo GameCube™, Game Boy Advance™ and Game Boy™ - the world's best-selling video game system which has sold over 110 million units. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.™ and ® are trademarks of Nintendo.
F IFAworldcup.com - One Global Stage
In September 2001, Yahoo! and FIFA entered into an exclusive, multi-year, global relationship whereby they produce, market, and commercially operate the Official Website of the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups™ (http://www.FIFAworldcup.com). At the same time, Yahoo! has become one of 15 Official FIFA Partners worldwide for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ (May 31 - June 30), the FIFA Women's World Cup China PR 2003, and the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. To date, Budweiser, MasterCard International, adidas and Philips have joined as the first four Official FIFA Partners to acquire sponsorship opportunities on FIFAworldcup.com. In addition, United Airlines, Motorola Inc, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC), and the Korean National Tourism Organization (KNTO) are also sponsoring FIFAworldcup.com.
About Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive online products and services to consumers and businesses worldwide. Yahoo! reaches more than 237 million individuals worldwide each month, and is the No. 1 Internet brand globally. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Yahoo!'s global network includes 25 World properties and is available in 13 languages.
For Further Information:
Media Contacts:
Dean Jutilla, Yahoo! Inc., (001) 408 3495338, djutilla@yahoo-inc.com
Sue Jackson, Yahoo! Europe PR, 44 207 8084526, suej@uk.yahoo-inc.com
Natasha Williams, Cake Walk (for Nintendo), 44 207 7471 6645, natasha@cakemedia.com
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