Olympiacos FC tops Greek Super League following tie-up with Emirates

The deal, covering the current season with options to extend the partnership for a further two years, will see the familiar 'Fly Emirates' signage displayed at the Karaiskaki Stadium, the home of Olympiacos.

Following the sponsorship announcement, Olympiacos went on to a 2-0 victory over local rivals AEK Athens in front a fanatical 30,000 strong home crowd. The result of the match, the first one played with Emirates branding in place, puts Olympiacos at the top of the Greek Super League.

Keith Longstaff, Emirates' Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide, said: "It is very exciting for Emirates to partner with the most successful football club in Greece. Olympiacos and Emirates are perfect partners with both being regularly recognised for their excellence; Olympiacos in the form of trophies and Emirates with over 400 awards to its name. The commencement of this sponsorship highlights Emirates' commitment to the Greek market, with rapid growth over the last few years and further ambitious plans for the year ahead. Our global commitment to football is now firmly reflected at the local level here as well."

Theodore Yiannikos, Head of International Affairs, welcomed all participants on behalf of the club and mentioned: "We are very proud to announce this partnership with Emirates."

Angelos Zouras, Managing Director of SportsUnited, gave some further information about the partnership: "The frame of the cooperation between the two organisations focuses in four different benefit categories (match-day advertising benefits, outdoor advertising benefits, media advertising benefits and corporate hospitality benefits) aiming to maximize awareness and exposure of both parties. It is within the intentions of the two Partners to develop packages specifically to target the club's fan base around the world."

In addition to the support of Olympiacos FC, Emirates is an Official Partner of the FIFA World Cup with close links to FIFA and all its projects in the 2007-2014 period. At the 2006 FIFA World Cup Emirates became the first airline to be an Official Partner of the world's premier football tournament.

Emirates also sponsors Arsenal football club and has the naming rights of their new home, the Emirates Stadium, in addition to partnerships with Paris Saint Germain Football Club, Hamburger SV and AC Milan. Emirates is also involved in a huge variety of sports including sailing, golf, horseracing, tennis, cricket and rugby.