Shanghai: WGC-HSBC Champions takes off with Emirates

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-27 09:14

Dubai-based Henrik Stenson donates for Project Hope, a local charity organization during the HSBC Champions 2009-EK Pro-Am event.

With its globally renowned commitment to sports sponsorship, Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, will serve the official airline of the WGC-HSBC Champions, Asia's first world golf championship event.

The WGC-HSBC Champions is the second golf event that Emirates has sponsored this year in China after the Volvo China Open in April. It also marks the start of a busy year ahead for golf sponsorship by Emirates.

In addition to its partnership with the WGC-HSBC Champions, Emirates is the official airline sponsor for another dozen tournaments spanning six continents during the 2010 season, including the Barclays Singapore Open, Australian Open Championship, Thailand Open, Hong Kong Open, the Australian PGA Championship, Dubai Desert Classic, Malaysian Open, Volvo China Open, BMW International Open, Austrian Open, Hero Honda Indian Open and the Dubai Ladies Masters.

"Emirates is very excited to be part of the WGC-HSBC Champions 2009, which has attracted seven of the world's top 10 golfers including Tiger Woods," said Edwin Lau, Emirates' vice president for Greater China.

During the championship, Emirates will be running a number of promotions to provide spectators with the chance to win business class return flights to Dubai.

Emirates' "Nearest to the Pin" competition during the Pro-Am event will also give participants the chance to win other business class fares while making charitable donations.

During the Emirates Pro-Am Charity "Nearest-to-the-Pin" Challenge of the HSBC Champions last year, one of the China's top golfers Zhang Lianwei smiles with Emirates cabin crew Elisa Chilton (left) and Summer Xia (right) after hitting his tee shoot on the 12th hole.

Emirates is a truly global sponsor; its portfolio includes serving as the official partner of FIFA; the sponsor of a number of high profile football teams including: Arsenal, Paris Saint German, Hamburger SV, AC Milan and Olympiacos; as well as the official partner of the ICC, Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2011, along with the sponsorship of leading horse races around the world.

Emirates serves China with 13 weekly and 12 weekly passenger services from Shanghai and Beijing to Dubai respectively, daily service from Guangzhou, twice-daily service from Hong Kong and seven dedicated freight services every week from Shanghai.

Emirates has earned over 400 international awards in recognition of its efforts to provide unsurpassed levels of customer service since its launch in 1985. With a fleet of over a 100 modern, wide-bodied aircraft, and a new plane arriving nearly every month, the airline currently flies to 100 destinations in six continents from its international hub of Dubai.