FIFA and the Local Organising Committee for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, due to be held from 7 June to 7 July 2019, are delighted to announce the signing of Arkema as their first National Supporter.
Based in Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine, France) with a presence in 55 countries, Arkema has become one of the world’s major manufacturers of chemicals and advanced materials.
The group places innovation at the heart of its development strategy, thus helping its customers address the economic, environmental and energy challenges of the 21st century.
Already involved in the world of sailing, Arkema chose to associate themselves with the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ to support women’s engagement in football.
The tournament will take place in nine Host Cities: Paris, Lyon, Nice, Rennes, Montpellier, Valenciennes, Reims, Grenoble and Le Havre. The world’s top 24 women’s football nations will be taking part.
Noël Le Graët, President of the French Football Association and of the Local Organising Committee, declared: “I welcome the signing of this agreement. Arkema is a highly dynamic, innovative and successful French international group that is a leader in the chemical sector. Its engagement with us, in football, as part of the organisation of the biggest competition in women’s sport, sends a strong signal.”
Philippe Le Floc’h, FIFA Chief Commercial Officer, commented on today’s announcement: “FIFA is serious about delivering on its objectives to grow female participation in football and build a strong women’s football ecosystem globally. It will also take support from all our stakeholders to get there and so I am very happy that we can now count on a strong National Supporter such as Arkema to help us on this journey. The FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 will be a celebration of the very best women’s football has to offer. We are very excited about it and cannot wait to be welcoming fans from all over the world to France next summer.”
Thierry Le Hénaff, Arkema Chairman and CEO, said: “Signing this agreement is a great opportunity for us to support and enhance the status of women both in sport and at work. The values of local outreach, solidarity and excelling oneself as upheld by a competition like the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 are fully consistent with Arkema’s own values. We are very proud to be involved in this global sporting event.”