CaixaBank joins the Spanish Basketball Federation as official sponsor, financial partner and Event Sponsor of the 2014 World Cup

• Isidro Fainé and José Luis Sáez this afternoon unveiled a comprehensive partnership extending until 2016
• According to the Chairman of CaixaBank, Isidro Fainé, "this was an opportunity that we could not pass up due to the professional and human qualities of the Spanish basketball team, as well as the 2014 World Cup being held in Spain"
• According to the President of the Spanish Basketball Federation, José Luis Sáez, this agreement represents "a partnership between two leading brands, sharing projects and values with absolute commitment and engagement"
• The agreement also covers numerous social and business projects, initiatives to support basketball in the community, via the Plaza 2014 program, as well as full backing for women's basketball

The Chairman of "la Caixa" and CaixaBank, Isidro Fainé, and the President of the Spanish Basketball Federation, José Luis Sáez, this Tuesday in Madrid unveiled a comprehensive partnership between the two institutions, by virtue of which CaixaBank will be the new official sponsor and financial partner of the Spanish Basketball Federation and the Spanish Basketball Team from this year until¬ 2016, as well as one of the Event Sponsors of the 2014 World Cup in Spain.

The Chairman of "la Caixa" and CaixaBank, Isidro Fainé, praised the Spanish basketball team as an "example for all, demonstrating their ability to put their talent and personal sacrifice to the service of the team and to achieve a common goal".

According to Fainé, "this was an opportunity that we could not pass up, due to the professional and human qualities of the Spanish basketball team, with the 2014 World Cup being held in Spain, and with the chance to close the cycle with the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games".

Isidro Fainé emphasized that the agreement "covers the women's team as well as lower category teams, and will see us carry our image and that of the Federation to all major Spanish cities".

The President of the Spanish Basketball Association, José Luis Sáez, stated that the agreement brings about "a partnership between two recognised leading brands to share projects and values with absolute commitment".

Sáez pointed out that the deal with "la Caixa" represents "a global agreement that ranges from the elite players right down to the grassroots level of the sport, while off the courts there will be social programs and initiatives to support our sport throughout Spain".

The President of the Basketball Federation also stated that "the 2014 World Cup is a great event to look forward to in the near term, but there are plenty of challenges ahead that we will be facing together with much enthusiasm and great ambition".

In this four year Olympic cycle, and with a view to sustaining a long-term partnership, "la Caixa" will be the major financial brand in Spanish Basketball, thanks to its active participation in this comprehensive project that includes social and business programs, and initiatives that will help promote our sport from the elites right down to the grassroots level in more than 50 cities across Spain.

The main common goals established under this agreement include providing full backing for women's basketball, support for basketball in the community via the Plaza 2014 program, and involvement in the future Spanish Basketball Federation Business Club at Espacio 2014 in Alcobendas. Furthermore, "la Caixa" will offer Spain's regional basketball federations financial support to help them run their programs and activities.

The agreement will also see the CaixaBank logo featured on all team shirts, both for the men's and women's squads.

For further information:

Spanish Basketball Federation Media Relations 
Tel: +34 91 384 43 29  ecuevas@feb.es    www.feb.es
Av. de Burgos, 8A  28036 Madrid 

CaixaBank Corporate Communications and External Relations
Tel: +34 93 404 65 06  prensa@lacaixa.es    http://prensa.lacaixa.es/caixabank
Av. Diagonal, 621 – 629  08028 Barcelona