UEFA European Football Championship^TM is the largest football event in Europe. It began in 1960 in France and it is held every four years in tournament format.

The figures from UEFA European 2008^TM show the scale of the event: UEFA European 2008^TM was broadcast on television in more than 200 countries, amounting to total broadcasting time of 30,000 hours and each of the 31 matches was followed live by at least 155 million TV viewers.

The official UEFA EURO 2008^TM website clocked up 500 million page views and over 40 million users.

16 qualifying national teams from throughout Europe form four groups of four teams and play in a tournament every four years. Since the inaugural tournament in 1960, it has received much attention from football fans not only in Europe but also from all around the world. UEFA European 2008^TM was held in Austria and Switzerland, and the winner of UEFA European 2008^TM represented the UEFA at the FIFA confederations Cup South Africa 2009. UEFA European 2012^TM will be held in Poland and Ukraine from June 8^th until July 1^st.

The event has been a launching platform to fame for football superstars such as Johann Cruijf, Michel Platini, Marco Van Basten, Oliver Bierhoff, Zinedine Zidane, Michael Owen, and David Beckham. It is widely considered as an event that helps boost the brand image of official sponsors as it is aired all over the world.

Kia Motors Corporation, in conjunction with Hyundai Motor, has become one of the prestige global EUROTOP partners of the upcoming UEFA European Football Championship^TM, ‘UEFA EURO 2012^TM’ and ‘UEFA EURO 2016^TM’.

The UEFA European 2012^TM sponsorship entitled Kia to promote their brand on perimeter boards around the stadiums and through official UEFA TV broadcast partners during the event, and use the event’s official logo in company media materials. In addition, Kia also will provide official vehicles that used during the event.

As well as UEFA European 2012^TM, the EURO TOP partnership means that Kia has obtained the right to participate as an official sponsor in UEFA's national-team competitions including the European U-21 Championships.

This partnership will give a big boost to the Kia brand awareness, not only in Europe but also among the huge audience of football fans throughout the world. At the same time, UEFA European 2012^TM will be a great stage to present Kia models, which to be supplied as an official vehicle of UEFA European 2012^TM. The UEFA EUROTOP partnership has been allowing Kia to continue to actively build its global brand and association with football, the most popular sport in the world.

Speaking at the sponsorship extension ceremony at Kia Motors headquarters in Korea, UEFA President Michel Platini, commented, “We are truly happy to extend the sponsorship agreement with the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, one of the world’s most promising companies. We will closely cooperate with Kia’s efforts to advance its presence through football sponsorship.”

Kia Motors is not only strengthening its relationship with Europe today [by officially opening the Slovakia production facility], but it is also building an exciting relationship with one of the world’s premier sporting events.