BIGBANK entered into an agreement with the non-profit organisation Spordiürituste Korraldamise Klubi on Thursday which will see the bank providing three million kroons in funding for the organisation and running the BIGBANK Gold League, the Baltic States' most prestigious athletics series, over the next four years.
Mati Lilliallik, a member of the management board of Spordiürituste Korraldamise Klubi, says that the sponsorship deal is a momentous one for Estonian athletics given the current economic climate. "We'll now be able to guarantee both the athletes and our partners that the Gold League will be taking place for the next four years and that they really can rely on us," he said. "It's vital that successful businesses continue to support sports even in financially less secure times."
Upon entering into the agreement, Targo Raus, chairman of the management board of BIGBANK, said that the bank had decided to extend its sponsorship of the series for a further four years because it represents one of the most successful projects ever undertaken in the field of sports in Estonia and that Spordiürituste Korraldamise Klubi had proven itself to be a reliable partner. "We'll be throwing our weight behind the organisation of the event itself, but also motivation of the athletes through prizes," he explained.
Previously going under the name of the ‘BIG Gold League', the series has been rechristened the ‘BIGBANK Gold League' in line with the change to the business name of the company. Three winter and five summer stages will be held as part of the series in 2009. The first stage will take place on 21 January in the sports building of the University of Tartu, while the last will be held on 26 August at Kadriorg Stadium in Tallinn. All of Estonia's top athletes have been permitted to compete in the Gold League this year - including Gerd Kanter, Aleksander Tammert, Märt Israel, Kaire Leibak, Tiidrek Nurme, Andrus Värnik, Ksenija Balta, Tõnis Sahk, Mihkel Kukk, Tatjana Kivimägi, Anna Iljuštšenko, Rene Oruman and Taavi Peetre. The jackpot for the overall winner of the 2009 series is valued at 300,000 kroons.
The BIGBANK Gold League is the leading series of athletics meets in Estonia and the Baltic States. It is organised by the non-profit organisation Spordiürituste Korraldamise Klubi and is being held for the fourth time in 2009.
BIGBANK (Balti Investeeringute Grupi Pank AS) is a specialist Estonian-owned credit institution which has subsidiaries in Latvia and Lithuania and which also offers its products as cross-border services in Finland. Its bonds are listed on the Tallinn and Stockholm stock exchanges.
For further information please contact:
Mati Lilliallik
Member of the management board
MTÜ Spordiürituste Korraldamise Klubi
mati@kuldliiga.ee
Telephone: +372 52 13 331
www.bigkuldliiga.ee
Targo Raus
Chairman of the board
BIGBANK
targo.raus@bigbank.ee
Telephone: +372 735 0923
