October 8 - Yachting Australia has signed a long term sponsorship deal with apparel manufacturer Slam which will see Australian sailors wearing the iconic brand until the 2012 London Olympic Games.


The new agreement encompasses Australia's senior and development squads as well as its Paralympic team.

The Australian team will join the firm's current high profile teams, including Russell Coutts and the BMW Oracle America's Cup Racing Team.
 

Anthony Young, Slam's managing director for Australia and New Zealand, said that Australia's reputation and strong performance at the 2008 Olympic Games made the team attractive to the company.

Australia won three medals, including two gold, at the Games to finish second in the medals table behind Britain.
 

Young said: "The Australian sailing team has become a name synonymous with success in Olympic class sailing and the team's results in recent years made them an ideal choice for Slam to go forward with.
 

"We see the next four years as an important time of growth for Slam both in Australia and around the world and believe that our involvement with the Australia sailing team will be integral to that growth."
 

The agreement will see Slam become the exclusive clothing supplier and major co-sponsor of the Australian team with branding to appear on the hull and sails of Australian boats, along with logos on team uniforms and an online presence.
 

SLAM is developing a new range of world class dinghy technical clothing with athletes from the Australian Sailing Team to be integral to the development and testing of the new products.

There will also be a range of merchandise and accessories that will be on sale to the general public, a percentage of which will go to helping Australia's prepare for London 2012.
 

Peter Conde, Yachting Australia's High Performance Director, said: "The Australian sailing team is thrilled to begin what we are sure is going to be a highly successful, long term relationship in the lead up to the London Olympics.

"In these economic times the agreement with Slam, who join current major supporters Audi and Hamilton Island, lends weight to our view that sailing provides sponsors with terrific value opportunities in a relatively clean environment."