p4,6,8,9 Sports news 7/17/08 2:33 PM Page 9
BUSINESS - Sports News
SGB w w w. s g b - s p o r t s . c o m
Sports and Outdoor
Molten official basketball for Beijing,
also welcomes Basketball Ireland
Molten, the world's leading manufacturer of balls and
sports equipment, has announced that the Molten
GL7/GL6 basketball (men/women models) has been
chosen by FIBA (International Basketball Federation)
as the official basketball for the 2008 Beijing Olympic
Games and that production of these basketballs has
already commenced at Molten's brand new Chinese
factory established in Jiaxing, 90km south west of
Shanghai.
Mr. Tamiaki, Molten Corporation President, said: "I am
very pleased that our basketball has been chosen for the
2008 Beijing Olympics, the first Olympics ever to be held
in China, and to announce that the official Olympic
basketball is to be printed with the Beijing Olympic Games
logo. I am sure our unique basketball will be a huge hit with
all the international players taking part in the Games.
"As well as being awarded this prestigious honor, I am also
delighted to announce that we have already begun manufacturing the selected Molten
GL7/GL6 basketballs in our brand new, high-tech manufacturing plant in Jiaxing, as part of
our strategic push into China and hope that our new ventures will benefit not only Molten,
but also the Chinese community and their sportsmen and women."
Meanwhile, Basketball Ireland is the latest federation to join Molten’s elite club in Europe
by appointing the unique, Molten 12-panel G-Series basketball as its official ball for the next
four seasons, commencing August 2008. Basketball Ireland follows the lead of a range of
federations in Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey, all of which have selected Molten’s G-series
basketball as their exclusive, official match ball.
Molten has also agreed to sponsor clothing for all Basketball Ireland’s referees and table
officials officiating at Super League Games from this September.
The Molten G-series basketball is to be launched in Ireland this coming August at the new
Emerald Hoops International series which is taking place in Dublin’s National Basketball
Arena, featuring international teams from Iceland, Poland and Notre Dame, one of the top
American College Basketball teams.
Debbie Massey, chief executive of Basketball Ireland commented:“We are pleased to have
appointed Molten as one of our partners. Molten really understands the game of basketball
at all levels and has promised to support us in a number of ways which will be of great
benefit to us and will also assist us in promoting basketball to a higher level in Ireland in the
lead up to the Olympics.
Canterbury signs Black Caps
Leading sportswear manufacturer Canterbury of New Zealand has announced New Zealand
Black Caps as the latest team to join is rapidly growing stable of endorsees.The deal will see
Canterbury become the apparel sponsor of the Blackcaps for the next three years.
The move further strengthens Canterbury’s position as one of the leading providers of
technical apparel to teams in world sport with New Zealand joining the likes of FA Cup winners
Portsmouth,Guinness Premiership champions London Wasps and Rugby World Cup winners
South Africa.
Canterbury will also be providing New Zealand with two state-of-the-art cricketing
innovations – micro-shine trousers bowling pants with built in chamois designed to aid shine of
the ball and micro-slide fielding pants designed to help players slide across the ground to
minimise injury.
Justin Vaughan,New Zealand Cricket (NZC) CEO,said:“Canterbury of New Zealand has
been driving technology innovation in garment design and production for some of the world's
biggest sports teams and we believe their clothing can contribute to the performance and
comfort of our players.
“CCC’s New Zealand heritage and global business operations make the company an ideal
apparel partner for NZC.”
9 JULY 2008
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