Endemol Successfully Pitch For FAI

Endemol Sport and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have announced they have entered a ten year partnership, which will see the launch of a major new annual football tournament in Ireland.
Endemol Sport will work with sports agency Iconic to manage, operate and produce the pre-season tournament, which will be staged at the newly opened Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The inaugural event will take place on 30-31st July 2011 with Inter Milan, current European Champions League Title holders, announced as the first leading international club to be taking part. More top European clubs will be announced in the coming weeks.
Endemol Sport will manage all commercial rights including media across all platforms internationally.
As part of the deal, Endemol Sport Iconic will sponsor and promote the FAI emerging talent programme which operates at twelve centres nationwide.
John Delaney, Chief Executive of the FAI said: "Our long term agreement with Endemol Sport gives us an excellent platform to showcase the Airtricity League which will participate with a representative team in this new club tournament.
"European Champions, Inter Milan start the exciting line up of participating clubs and we look forward to unveiling more top sides in the coming weeks.
"As part of the agreement, Endemol will also sponsor and promote the FAI's emerging talent programme which provides a pathway for elite players all over Ireland to progress to the professional game. We look forward to working closely with Endemol through this agreement which provide a seven figure sum annually for the benefit of Irish football at all levels."
Also commenting, Gregg Oldfield, Managing Director of Endemol Sport added: "We are delighted to be working with the Football Association of Ireland in creating a new tournament, which will bring world class football teams to play in front of the Irish football public. We are extremely pleased to have Inter Milan as our first team and look forward to announcing more leading international clubs in the coming weeks."
Ernesto Paolillo, Chief Executive Officer of Inter Milan commented: "Inter Milan are both delighted and honoured to be taking part in the Inaugural Tournament at the magnificent Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
"We are looking forward to our first visit to Ireland, and to open what is certain to become the Worlds premier pre season Football Tournament."
(BMcC/GK)