Ford of Canada renews title sponsorship of World Curling Championships to 2004

The Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, will renew its title sponsorship of the Ford World Curling Championships for another five years, from 2000 to 2004.

Announced today with the World Curling Federation during the finals of the 1999 Ford World Curling Championships, the Oakville, Ont.-based company has "renewed its pledge to support curling excellence throughout Canada and around the world," says Robert Girard, Ford of Canada’s vice president, general marketing.

Ford of Canada has been the title sponsor of the annual championship and associate sponsor of six major curling championships -- known as the Season of Champions -- since 1995.

"Ford of Canada will continue to make a real difference in the lives of Canadians by enhancing the enjoyment they derive from curling and by fostering a competitive environment for rinks in communities across the land," he adds.

Mr. Girard says he is particularly pleased with the plan to hold upcoming Ford World Curling Championships at overseas venues.

"Ford Motor Company is a global consumer company of automotive products and services. It is fitting, therefore, that the Ford blue oval will follow the Championship as it moves to Scotland next year and Switzerland in 2001," he adds.

The renewed Season of Champions sponsorship package gives Ford of Canada associate status in six major Canadian curling championships: Canadian Mixed; Canadian Seniors; Canadian Juniors; Scott Tournament of Hearts; Labatt Brier and World Juniors.

The package also renews the popular Ford "Hot Shots" skills competition. Featured at both the Scott Tournament of Hearts and Labatt Brier, "Hot Shots" provides a new Ford vehicle for the respective women’s and men’s skills competition winner.

Read more about Ford's involvement in Professional Curling events at http://www.fordcurling.com/.