Feb 03, 2010 at 04:30 PM
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Solar Company Becomes First Chinese World Cup Sponsor

China's Yingli Green Energy will be the first-ever Chinese company to sponsor the World Cup, FIFA and Yingli officials announced at a signing ceremony earlier today. The vertically integrated NYSE company is currently the sixth largest manufacturer of photovoltaic solar panels in the world.


Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy, commented: "As one of the world's leading solar companies, we are excited to be joining other world-class brands as an international sponsor of the FIFA World Cup. This sponsorship links Yingli Green Energy to the world's most popular and passionately followed sport. We feel privileged to have this opportunity, and look forward to offering our expertise to help FIFA leverage this much-loved sport to promote a better, greener environment. This sponsorship also signifies our response to the growing global demand to create a greener world through renewable energy. We are proud of our mission and the steps we are taking to make solar power an enduring and cost-effective technology for all humankind."

FIFA president Joseph Blatter commended the solar energy company located in north China in a video message broadcast at Wednesday's signing ceremony.

"The announcement of Yingli Green Energy as the first Chinese company to be a global sponsor of the FIFA World Cup marks a historical moment," said Mr. Blatter.

According to the agreement signed by Yingli and FIFA, Yingli will be responsible for the installation of the solar-power lighting systems in the twenty stadiums where the World Cup would be held. Yingli will receive global marketing rights, including certain ticket, perimeter-board advertising and media rights as well as the right to showcase its solar products at the fan zones in the FIFA World Cup stadiums. Additionally, the agreement gives Yingli the right to place its company logo next to the FIFA World Cup Official Emblem and advertise or promote its products and services at each step of the distribution process. Yingli will have access to extensive on-site opportunities at FIFA World Cup stadiums for marketing and promotion purposes.

We'll let Buildaroo and Hank from Yingli tell you more about what they do: