A truly international winter sport
Bobsleigh has grown from a “niche” sport in a small core of alpine nations to a truly international winter sport. Working closely with the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT) since 2003, Infront Sports & Media has embarked on a path of expansion, with impressive growth in the international television audiences and hours of coverage.Infront’s role includes the marketing of the key sponsorship packages for bobsleigh and skeleton’s top-tier sponsorship programme as well as the worldwide distribution of media rights for the men’s and women’s FIBT World Cup and FIBT World Championship events.
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 with the crews subjected 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 adjoining Cresta-Run in St Moritz, one of the world’s most exclusive sporting clubs. The run is unique – it is natural and 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 the 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 seven years, there has been a 73% increase in the cumulative audience (across all disciplines) and the hours of coverage have also grown impressively – up a huge 398% from 2004/2005.In the 2009/2010 season (shortened season due to Olympic Winter Games), FIBT World Cup competitions (bobsleigh and skeleton) were broadcast across 92 TV stations in 22 countries reaching a cumulative audience of 560 million viewers and a total of almost 900 broadcast hours.
Growing appeal to sponsors
Bobsleigh and skeleton have a growing appeal to commercial partners, top brands like Title Sponsor VIESSMANN, adidas, Bauhaus, Intersport and Omega take advantage of the strong sponsorship components that enhance these two 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. The partnership structure includes Title Sponsor, Main Sponsor and two LOC sponsors. The principle contractual rights for the World Cup Main Sponsor package 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)
About the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT):
www.fibt.com
