Emirates contributes to Sri Lanka’s Carnival of Cricket

With cricket fever gripping Sri Lanka in the countdown to the ICC World Twenty20, Emirates - an Official ICC Partner – will be playing a part in the carnival of cricket through a series of activities.

Ireland, which arrived in Sri Lanka on an Emirates flight, clinched a place in ICC World Twenty20 by winning the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2012 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium

In addition to flying in the trophies for both the men’s and women’s events – as well as number of the competing teams, their fans and the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees, the international airline – which serves Colombo with three daily flights to Dubai – is contributing to the growth of the game at a grassroots level.

As Official Airline of the Murali Harmony Cup, an event being staged in the build-up to the ICC World Twenty20 dedicated to promoting peace and understanding by bringing together talented young players from across Sri Lanka, Emirates will be providing a number of special awards.

The schoolboys competing in the event – which gets under way on 8 September – have the added incentive of winning a place in the Unity Team, a select side which will join Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara on an Emirates flight to Singapore, where they will play two exhibition matches against Singapore Cricket Club. In addition, Emirates will be hosting both the winning schoolboy team, as well as the champion women’s XI, at the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20, while it will also present a special prize to both players of the tournaments.

“Emirates is committed to the development of cricket and is honoured to be contributing to a community initiative which not only brings together the young players of Sri Lanka, but which will hopefully help inspire them to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Muralitharan and Sangakkara,” said Emirates Airline and Group Executive Vice Chairman Sir Maurice Flanagan.

 “As the Official Airline of the ICC World Twenty20, Emirates is also very proud to be involved to the growth of the global game. Being involved with events like this provides us with the chance to connect with the people who we connect to 125 destinations and show our ongoing commitment to a nation which Emirates has been serving since 1986,” added Sir Maurice. “It is also a tremendous opportunity for us to further strengthen our support of cricket, which we all know is much more than just a sport in this part of the world.”

Emirates – the Official Airline of the ICC World Twenty20 – transported both trophies to Bandaranaike International Airport where they were met by Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ajit Jayasekara and ICC WT20 2012 Tournament Director Upekha Nell

Visitors flying in to Sri Lanka on selected Emirates flights carrying competing teams will have the chance to win exclusive signed merchandise as part of a Lucky Seat promotion. In addition, radio, print and digital promotions will provide cricket fans the chance to win match tickets to the tournament.

Emirates is also offering fans the chance to be part of an innovative digital activity at the final on 7th October that will keep interest alive beyond the tournament. Spectators have the opportunity to tag themselves in a picture at the final taken by the Emirates FanCam, a 10 billion pixel 360-degree image which has captured every person in the stadium. After the final visit  www.emiratesfancam.com/wt20 to tag yourself in the crowd, or spot a member of the Emirates cabin crew to be in with a chance to win signed merchandise.

Emirates’ ICC Official Partner status gives the airline sponsorship rights to all ICC major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and ICC World Twenty20. It also sponsors the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, ICC Under-19 World Cup, ICC Intercontinental Cup and the ICC Women’s World Cup.

In partnership with the ICC, Emirates sponsors the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees, an agreement which sees the Fly Emirates logo prominently displayed on the umpires’ clothing at all ICC events.

In addition, Emirates is the Team Sponsor of Deccan Chargers and will be supporting the Hyderabad club in the IPL until 2014.

Emirates also supports English County side Durham as the shirt sponsor of its Twenty20 side, while it also has naming rights to the club’s stadium, the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground.

Emirates sponsors domestic cricket in Pakistan and is involved with a number of tournaments, including the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2011-12, Pentagular Cricket Cup 2011-12, OneDay Cricket Cup 2011-12 and Super 8 T20 Cricket Cup 2012.

Emirates is also a sponsor of the UK charity Lord’s Taverners and – in partnership with the Arabian Cricket Challenge - it is the title sponsor of the Emirates Airline Twenty20, Emirates Airline Forty40 and the Emirates Airline ARCH Trophy, which is contested by schools.