The Australian Olympic Committee has entered into a 10-year partnership with telecommunications firm Optus.
The company has been named the official telecommunications partner of the AOC, which has hailed the deal as one of its “biggest ever”. The agreement becomes effective in 2016 and will run through until 2026.
The deal will cover next summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the 2020 Games in the Japanese capital of Tokyo and the 2024 Games, the host of which is yet to be announced. Optus will extend its backing to the AOC’s teams at the winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea in 2018; the winter Games in the Chinese capital of Beijing four years later and in the yet-to-be-determined host city of the 2026 event. The firm will also support Australia’s Youth Olympic teams.
Optus will be granted access to the AOC’s comprehensive sponsorship programme, which includes Olympic-themed promotions, branded merchandise, VIP events, Games tickets and hospitality packages, and licensed product opportunities.
“Today marks an important sporting partnership for Optus in our journey to become a mobile-led multimedia company,” Ben White, acting managing director of product and marketing at Optus, said.
The AOC said it is costing A$23m (€15.1m/$16.5m) to send the 2016 team to Rio, adding that it would not be possible without the generosity of its sponsors.