Title sponsors are big business in the world of sports, and this is very apparent in the world of professional cycling. This week Slipstream Sports, which had been competing in professional cycling races including the Tour de France as Gamrin-Barracuda will become Garmin Sharp.
While Barracuda Networks will continue as an important co-title sponsor, and team materials as well as the website will refer to the team as Gamrin-Sharp-Barracuda, the official UCI-registered name of the team will be Garmin-Sharp (GRS).
TV and electronics maker Sharp is celebrating its 100 years in 2012 so we see this as a fitting way to draw some international attention.
“In the year Sharp celebrates 100 years of creating unique technologies and products that bring genuine benefit to society, we are delighted to become Technology Partner to the most exciting team in one of the world’s most beautiful sports, which perfectly showcases the convergence of technological and human achievement. Sharp has a strong focus on developing its brand presence globally, and this offers us the opportunity to put ourselves in front of a significant, new, world-wide audience. Sharp is dedicated to its founding ideals of sincerity and creativity, and with their clear commitment to ethical innovation, Slipstream are the perfect fit.” said Paul Molyneux, CEO of Sharp Europe.
“The rapidly-growing consumer Health and Wellness market offers tremendous potential for Sharp and with this team and the partners involved, we have a world-class platform to develop real technological benefit in a highly-focused, performance-based environment. We will challenge ourselves to use new and existing Sharp technology to help this amazing group of athletes go faster, recover quicker and continue their inspiring journey to the top of their sport, looking to create new products that help people live in a healthier, more enjoyable way.”
Congratulations to Sharp for reaching this important milestone.