adidas & Boston Marathon announce contract extension

18 Apr '09

3 min read

adidas and the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) are celebrating their 20-year partnership with a contract extension that keeps the brand as the Official Supplier and Outfitter of the Boston Marathon for years to come. Looking forward, adidas and the B.A.A. will be together for the B.A.A.'s 125th anniversary in 2013, and the historic 125th running of the Boston Marathon in 2021.

This year, adidas will again supply the coveted official Boston Marathon jacket and will outfit more than 10,000 race volunteers, media members, medical personnel, race officials and staff. In addition, the extension expands on the adidas role to include exclusive rights to manufacture, distribute, promote and sell B.A.A. branded apparel.

"The Boston Marathon is the world's most prestigious road race. Runners of all levels travel to Boston each April to run, cheer or simply watch history being made. As a running brand it is the place to be," said Patrik Nilsson, President, adidas America. "The Boston Marathon is a key platform for us to introduce new products and technologies, and we look forward to more opportunities to build on the traditions surrounding this race with runners and fans alike."

When adidas first sponsored the Boston Marathon in 1989, the race had 6,458 entrants; this year it will have 26,400. The B.A.A. and adidas will continue to create comprehensive and proactive community outreach programs to serve and promote sports in the city of Boston. Currently, the two entities partner on programs such as clinics for Boston-area runners throughout the year and the B.A.A. Kid's Relay Challenge, conducted over marathon weekend.

"The partnership between the B.A.A. and adidas has strengthened the Boston Marathon in ways that not even we could have predicted," said Guy Morse, B.A.A. executive director. "We have been able to inspire, motivate and create products, events and programs that are consistent with the Boston Marathon's prestige and history. Since we joined efforts in 1989, adidas has been with the B.A.A. and with runners every step of the way."

2009 Boston Marathon Product
adidas running product will be on sale at the adidas booth at the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo inside the John B. Hynes Convention Center and at local Boston retailers including Marathon Sports, City Sports, New England Running Company and the Greater Boston Running Company. The full line of product can be purchased online at shopadidas.com.

• In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the original partnership and the running of the 113th Boston Marathon, adidas designed a limited edition B.A.A. Supernova Sequence 2 running shoe. The limited-edition shoe features a unique colorway with the iconic B.A.A. unicorn logo. Only 800 pairs of the shoes were created. The shoes retail for $100 and are available at the Boston Marathon Expo, Marathon Sports, City Sports, New England Running Company, the Greater Boston Running Company and shopadidas.com.

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