FC Barcelona and Qatar Sports Investments announce that they have, under the terms of their contract, that Qatar Airways will appear on the Club shirt from the 2013-2014 season as the new Main Global Sponsor. Meanwhile, Qatar Sports Investments, in agreement with FC Barcelona, has designated Qatar Foundation as the Official Human Development Partner of FC Barcelona, which will allow the promotion of initiatives based on their shared values to continue. Sandro Rosell, president of FC Barcelona, has welcomed Qatar Airways as, “an ambitious brand with global aspirations, always committed to achieving the utmost excellence in its field. These are objectives with which FC Barcelona fully identifies.” The contract signed with QSI permits the possibility of including a new logo on the shirt from the third season of the agreement, as we reported to the Assembly of Representatives in September 2011. The inclusion of sponsorship on the shirt was agreed at the Assembly of Representatives in August 2003. Rosell also stressed that “after sharing two fantastic years with Qatar Foundation, we are delighted to be continuing our relationship by welcoming them as our official Human Development Partner.” Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, said, “We are delighted to form this alliance with FC Barcelona, the biggest football club in the world. Qatar Airways has been voted Best Airline in the World for two consecutive years (2011 and 2012) and will work with FC Barcelona on activities of benefit both to fans and passengers, offering tangible rewards to both organisations.” A Qatar Foundation spokesperson added that “when we started this fantastic journey with FC Barcelona, our objective was to work closely with the club, the team and the supporters to promote awareness of Qatar Foundation on an international scale. This has been a huge success. In fact, the first two years of the collaboration have surpassed our expectations and we are looking to deepen and strengthen our relationship with FC Barcelona and its supporters around the world in our continued role as a proud partner of the club.” Qatar Sports Investments, Qatar Airways and Qatar Foundation are united in their commitment to the success of FC Barcelona. Qatar Foundation Official Statement: We are proud and privileged of the incredible two years we have had so far with FC Barcelona. Barça is the greatest football club in the world and has the most loyal and most passionate fans. When we started this fantastic journey with FCB, our aim was to work closely with the club, the team and the fans to raise awareness of Qatar Foundation internationally. This we have done successfully. In fact the first two years of our partnership have surpassed our expectations and we are now looking to deepen and strengthen our relationship with FCB and its fans around the world in our continued role as a proud partner of the club. FC Barcelona is a club that exemplifies passion, pride, heritage and culture at its core. These are values that we share and admire and that are fundamental to Qatar Foundation and our partners. We therefore look forward to building on the first two years and are exploring a programme of exciting initiatives in partnership with FCB, which will be focused on fans and beyond. Our friends at Qatar Airways now have the opportunity to work with what is the world’s greatest football club – more than a club. We are looking forward to working closely together to bring to fruition new initiatives to reward the best fans in the world. Qatar Airways Official Statement: “Qatar Airways is today delighted to enter into a partnership with FC Barcelona, the world’s biggest football club. “This agreement with FC Barcelona will see Qatar Airways appear on the club’s jerseys from the beginning of the 2013/14 season and we look forward to the enhanced global exposure for our airline and the State of Qatar. “Qatar Airways, which has been voted World’s Best Airline two years in a row (2011 and 2012), will work with FC Barcelona on joint activities that promise to benefit fans and passengers, offering tangible rewards for both entities. “We already fly daily from Barcelona to Doha and onward to over 120 destinations around the world. We look forward to building upon this and bringing FC Barcelona even closer to its global fan base. “Sport is one of the key pillars of Qatar’s long-term growth strategy and we are confident that this partnership can make a significant contribution to this vision. “Qatar Airways, along with Qatar Sports Investments and Qatar Foundation, is committed to delivering community programmes and initiatives that encourage people to adopt healthy and active lifestyles, in line with FC Barcelona’s values.” ILQ NEWS

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