Speeding across all continents
Bob and skeleton are synonymous with speed and exhilaration. During a typical 60-second bobsleigh run, speeds of more than 140 km/h are reached and the crews are subject to more than four times the force of gravity. Bobsleigh and skeleton races are usually run on concrete based tracks with artificial ice surfaces; have a standard length of 1,500 metres and up to 14 curves, depending on the track. There are now 14 tracks in operation worldwide.
Bobsleigh’s top competitions are the FIBT World Cup and the FIBT World Championships, which are staged annually except during Olympic years.
Skeleton – elite image
Skeleton is the world’s first sliding sport and the only one where athletes take a face down position. It has an elite aura through its long identification with the world-famous Olympia Bob Club and its adjacent Cresta-Run in St Moritz, one of the world’s most exclusive sporting clubs. The run is unique – it is natural and still built from scratch every year using the natural contours of the valley and earth banks to provide a framework on which to pile the snow.
Skeleton competition returned to the Olympic Winter Games in 2002 with men’s and women’s competition in Park City, Utah, ending its 54-year absence from the world’s most prestigious sports competition. Participation in skeleton has increased significantly as a result of its return to the Olympic programme. Today, skeleton is practiced on a competitive level by some 30 countries from all continents.
Amongst the most successful winter sports
FIBT’s events are amongst the most successful winter sports. Over the last five years, there has been 64% growth in the cumulative audience (across all disciplines) and the hours of coverage have grown five-fold – up a huge 364% from 2004/05.
In the 2008/2009 season, FIBT World Cup competitions (bobsleigh and skeleton) were broadcast across 20 national TV stations in 60 countries reaching a cumulative viewing audience of more than 669.2 million and a total transmission time of more than 1,100 hours, 52% up on the previous year.
Growing appeal to sponsors
The growing attraction of bobsleigh and skeleton to sponsors – top brands like adidas, Bauhaus, Intersport and Omega - is soundly based on components that enhance the commercial appeal of these Olympic disciplines. For example, greater sponsor exclusivity means there are a limited number of advertising partners, resulting in strong, clear brand visibility.
FIBT is committed to streamlining competition formats in order to enhance the profile of the sport. Commercial opportunities include a partnership structure of a title sponsor, main sponsor and two LOC sponsors. The principle contractual rights for the main sponsor package for the World Cup 2009/10 include:
- Advertising opportunities in camera view at the start, finish and along the track
- Logo on all skeleton starting bibs and stickers on all helmets (bob and skeleton)
- Logo integration with all printing materials and internet presence
- On-site product placement within the winter village and fan tent
- Access to VIP and hospitality areas (including taxi bob rides on the world cup track)
