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Rogers renews commitment to Canadian Tennis
(Canada Newswire English Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Attention News Editors/See CNW Photo Network and Archive
Rogers Communications extends title partnership of Rogers Cup through
2011
TORONTO, July 20 /CNW/ - Tennis Canada and Rogers Communications Inc. announced Sunday a three-year renewal of title sponsorship for Rogers Cup in both Toronto and Montreal. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, however the contract will extend through the 2011 event.
"Rogers continues to display its unwavering commitment to sport in this country," said Michael S. Downey, president and chief executive officer, Tennis Canada. "We are proud to have such a dedicated title partner. On behalf of the nearly two million Canadian tennis players, and the thousands of television viewers, I extend our sincere appreciation to Rogers for helping keep Rogers Cup one of the premiere tennis tournaments in the world. As a non-profit organization, Tennis Canada directs the surplus from the Rogers Cup tournaments to enhance tennis development. By renewing title partnership of Rogers Cup, Rogers has invested further in Canadian tennis."
The marriage between Tennis Canada and Rogers Communications started in 2000 when Rogers Wireless became co-title sponsor of the women's international event and the relationship has grown ever since. In 2004, Rogers Wireless was the lone title sponsor of the WTA event and one year later, cemented its place in Canadian tennis history by lending its name to both men's and women's tournaments, which rotate between Toronto and Montreal annually.
"We are pleased to renew our partnership with Tennis Canada and Rogers Cup," said Ted Rogers, president and chief executive officer, Rogers Communications Inc. "Rogers is pleased to link our brand with professional and amateur tennis in Canada. We look forward to watching this tennis tournament flourish for years to come."
In addition to its title sponsorship of Rogers Cup tournaments, Rogers Communications is a leader in grassroots tennis. As presenting partner of the Building Tennis Communities strategy and Rogers Rankings - a unified national ranking system, set to launch publicly in 2009, Rogers continually shows that they are an active partner. Additionally, Rogers provides assistance to several provincial tennis associations and in 2006, created the Rogers Cup Hall of Fame.
"We are the envy of international tennis tournaments because our title partner does not just tie its name to the event, they constantly enhance programming," said Eug?ne Lapierre, vice-president, Quebec professional tennis and tournament director of Rogers Cup presented by National Bank. "Rogers will extend its name to all of our junior national indoor and outdoor championships. They are as interested in making tennis grow as we are."
Solidifying its faith in Canadian tennis, Rogers extended the title partnership to include the 2011 Rogers Cup tournaments - the first year when the two events will be moved to the same week. Virtually combined by television, Rogers Cup will continue to rotate between Toronto and Montreal.
"Rogers Communications is very strategic in choosing its partners," said Nadir Mohamed, president and chief operating officer, Communications Group, Rogers Communications Inc. "We have been proud to help tennis grow to historic highs throughout Canada. Additionally, Rogers Cup shines as a best-in-class on the ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tours. The next three years will be extremely exciting for sports fans as Rogers Cup climbs to new heights."
The main draw for Rogers Cup begins tomorrow at Rexall Centre in Toronto with action getting underway at 11 a.m. Rogers Cup presented by National Bank is scheduled from July 26 to August 3 at Uniprix Stadium in Montreal.
About Rogers Cup
Rogers Cup is a Tennis Canada owned and operated world-class tournament celebrating its 127th anniversary. Rogers Cup takes place July 19-27, 2008 at the world-class Rexall Centre on the campus of York University. As an ATP Masters Series tournament and U.S. Open Series event, the Rogers Cup will showcase the world's top male tennis talent in Toronto for nine exciting days of tennis. Past champions Novak Djokovic (2007), Roger Federer (2004 and 2006), Rafael Nadal (2005) and Andy Roddick (2003) will battle once again for the third-oldest title in tennis, behind only Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. For tickets visit www.rogerscup.com.
About the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank
A Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Tier I event, the Rogers Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world after the four Grand Slams. The Rogers Cup, which showcases the best players in the world, offers a total of $1.34 million dollars in prize money and is part of the US Open Series. Founded in 1892, the Rogers Cup is the third oldest tournament in the world after Wimbledon and the US Open. Some of tennis history's greatest champions have claimed the Rogers Cup title including Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Serena Williams, Justine Henin and Ana Ivanovic. The presentation of the women's and men's edition of the Rogers Cup alternates each year between Montreal and Toronto.
About Rogers Communications Inc.
We are a diversified Canadian communications and media company. We are engaged in wireless voice and data communications services through Wireless, Canada's largest wireless provider and the operator of the country's only national Global System for Mobile Communications ("GSM") based network. Through Cable we are one of Canada's largest providers of cable television services as well as high-speed Internet access and telephony services. Through Media, we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, and sports entertainment. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit www.rogers.com.
About Tennis Canada
Founded in 1890, Tennis Canada is a non-profit, national sport association responsible for leading the growth, promotion and showcasing of tennis in Canada. Tennis Canada owns and operates two of the premier events on the ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA tours; Rogers Cup men's and women's events that rotate annually between Rexall Centre in Toronto and Uniprix Stadium in Montreal. In addition, Tennis Canada owns and operates six professional ITF sanctioned events and financially supports five other professional tournaments in Canada. Tennis Canada operates national training centres at the Compass Centre of Excellence in Toronto and at Uniprix Stadium in Montreal. Tennis Canada is a proud member of the International Tennis Federation, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and the International Wheelchair Tennis Association, and serves to administer, sponsor and select the teams for Davis Cup, Fed Cup, the Olympic Games and all wheelchair, junior and senior national teams. Tennis Canada invests its surplus into tennis development. For more information on Tennis Canada please visit our Web site at: www.tenniscanada.com.
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Media Contacts: Jan Innes, Vice-President, Communications, Rogers Communications Inc., (416) 935-3526, jan.innes@rci.rogers.com; Michael Cvitkovic, Regional Director, Communications and Media Relations, Tennis Canada, (416) 650-7947, mcvitkovic@tenniscanada.com; Louis-Antoine Paquin, Regional Director, Communications and PR, Tennis Canada, (514) 273-1515 ext. 232, lapaquin@tenniscanada.com
Copyright ? 2008 Canada Newswire Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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