Kia Motors NZ Kicks Off FIFA U-20 World Cup with Vehicle Handover Ceremony
Kia Motors, Official Partner to FIFA, has officially handed over 112 vehicles to support the transportation requirements
of the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand.
Kia Vehicles, including the all new 2015 Sorento and all new 2015 Carnival, Sportage, and Cerato Hatch and Sedan, will
support the transportation of LOC and FIFA officials and delegates from all over the world.
As the ‘Official Automotive Partner of FIFA’ the world-class vehicles will be used from now through to the completion of
the games on 20 June.
Todd McDonald, General Manager of Kia Motors New Zealand, formally presented the CEO of FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand
2015, Dave Beeche the Kia vehicle fleet at North Harbour Stadium on Auckland’s North Shore. Also in attendance was
Claude Hollenstein, FIFA Marketing Venue Manager – Auckland.
“We’re delighted to be providing a safe, reliable and award winning fleet of vehicles to FIFA,” said McDonald. “With
these games happening here in our backyard, we’re also excited to be partnering with FIFA and bringing world-class
football to our shores.”
Vehicles were chosen to move both people and materials to support the efforts of FIFA and the Local Organizing
Committee, and all volunteers that will drive the vehicles have been shown by Kia dealerships how to setup the car to
their preferences.
Beeche added; ”we have been working closely with our partners at Kia Motors for several months having already used their
Kia Soul vehicles since the end of last year. It is fantastic that we can now extend this partnership and we remain
hugely grateful for the support of the local Kia Motors team.”
Five-star safety rated vehicles including the Cerato, Sportage SUV, and the all-new Sorento 7-seater were specifically
selected.
In the lead up to kick off, Kia launched a key programme that invited Kiwi football fans aged between 8 and 12 years of
age to be a game-day Kia Mascot Mate. Winners will run out on-field with Wooliam™ during match days.
After completion of the Kia Mascot Mate promotion, which engaged soccer Mums and Dads across the country, Jack
Glassenbury from Christchurch Kia won the contest and will run out with Wooliam during the Final on 20 June.
“We’d like to thank Kia for the crucial role they play in providing the best possible vehicles to transport our people
in comfort, style and safety. Kia is vital to the operational success of the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015. This
handover ceremony is an important milestone in the lead up to the games, it signals that the LOC, FIFA, Kia and the
nation are now up to speed and ready to move the event forward,” said Beeche.
ends