Mastercard Continues Focus to Champion Women with New Additions to Global Sponsorship Portfolio
May 21 2019 - 3:00AM
Business Wire
Mastercard, one of the world’s most active sponsors of major
sporting events, is strengthening its commitment to women’s
football. The move sends a powerful signal for gender equality in
sports and demonstrates a continued focus on gender balanced
marketing. Mastercard has been a long-standing advocate of the
importance of diversity, inclusion and partnering to promote good
governance and integrity in sport.
For 25 years, Mastercard has been a major sponsor of women’s
football. As the game becomes more professional and competitive,
Mastercard believes it is an opportune moment to invest in clubs
and players, as this is the most direct way of putting much needed
resources into women’s sports. Designed to help to grow the clubs
and players while raising visibility and appeal to a broader range
of fans and enthusiasts, Mastercard’s latest investment recognises
the women who play and supports the clubs they play for.
Women’s football is now the leading participation sport among
young women and is projected to continue to grow through the
success of the club game and the emergence of “super talents” on
the world stage.
The latest global sponsorships in women’s football are
trailblazers in this process and feature a combination of clubs and
players: Arsenal Football Club and Olympique Lyonnais
together with a series of team brand ambassadors.
Olympique Lyonnais has just become European Women’s Champions
for a record sixth time in their eighth consecutive league final.
The club also completed the French domestic double, their 13th
league title in succession.
Leading the Olympique Lyonnais Mastercard women’s football
ambassador charge is Ada Hegerberg, Olympique Lyonnais
striker and the first ever Ballon d’Or Feminine Recipient in 2018.
The Ballon d’Or is historically an annual award given to the best
male player in the world. It was started in 1956. Hegerberg is
joined by teammates Kadeisha Buchanan, Olympique Lyonnais
defender, Canada National Team captain; Saki Kumagai,
Olympique Lyonnais defender, Japan National Team captain; and
Wendie Renard, Olympique Lyonnais captain and former French
National Team captain who has played in all six of the club’s
European championships.
Arsenal Women FC is the reigning Women’s Super League (WSL)
champions and have won the league a record 12 times out of a
potential total of 17 contests.
With her historic ties to Arsenal, Alex Scott, retired
captain for Arsenal & English National Team, Financial Times
Woman of the Year, MBE, pioneering broadcaster and the first female
analyst for men’s football will be Mastercard’s lead female
football ambassador.
“I am honoured to join Mastercard in supporting and advocating
for women athletes in their quest for greatness and their pursuit
of careers in all areas of professional sport. Together with
Mastercard, I am thrilled to help make a difference in growing
women’s football,” said Scott.
Both teams’ success is a model for women’s football and has been
built on a progressive vision conceived many years ago of having
fully professional teams.
Joining this strong and influential roster are team captains
Pernille Harder, VfL Wolfsburg striker, Danish National Team
captain; and Sam Kerr, Chicago Red Stars forward, Australia
National Team captain.
“We believe that brands that connect to the passions of their
audience become more relevant, trusted and integrated into people's
lives. As we move from moments to movements, our focus is on
ensuring that both are activities and our sponsorship properties
represent the passions and beliefs of those we serve,” said Raja
Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications officer, Mastercard.
“By investing significantly in women's football, as a professional
and influential sport, we have an opportunity to directly impact
the lives of athletes and help build sustainable programs to which
girls and women around the world can aspire.”
Mastercard’s premier circle of sports sponsorship includes many
of the world’s marque sporting events and organizations such as the
Roland-Garros, The Australian Open, UEFA Champions League, PGA
TOUR®, Major League Baseball, Rugby World Cup, The Open, Copa
América, and League of Legends Esports among others. Mastercard
uses it partnerships and assets to create Priceless experiences and
Priceless surprises to help cardholders get closer to the games and
athletes they love.
- ENDS -
Note to editors:
About Mastercard
Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a
technology company in the global payments industry. Our global
payments processing network connects consumers, financial
institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than
210 countries and territories. Mastercard products and
solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping,
traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more
secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on
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MastercardRose Beaumont at rose.beaumont@mastercard.comKara
Condon at kara.condon@mastercard.comJennifer Stalzer at
jennifer.stalzer@mastercard.com
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