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Document 32 of 67.

Copyright 1998 Information Access Company,
a Thomson Corporation Company;
ASAP
Copyright 1998 Capital Cities Media Inc.
WWD

July 16, 1998

SECTION: No. 141, Vol. 175; Pg. 8; ISSN: 0149-5380

IAC-ACC-NO: 20923350

LENGTH: 192 words

HEADLINE: WORLD CUP HANGOVERS; Adidas and Nike; Brief Article

BODY:
Perhaps no one was happier about seeing France and Brazil in last weekend's finals of the World Cup than Adidas and Nike.

Adidas, which has sponsored the French team since the Sixties, was also the official sponsor of the World Cup. Having invested about $ 90 million in the sponsorship of the event, Adidas expects its World Cup exposure to reinforce its ranking as the leading soccer brand in the world, an Adidas spokesman said.

During the World Cup, 27 players scored goals wearing Adidas products, he added.

Prior to the semifinals of the World Cup, Adidas held a press event to plug its sponsorship of the Women's World Cup which will be held in the U.S. next year.

Nike -- which plunked down an estimated $ 200 million for its 10-year sponsorship deal with Brazil -- aims to be the number-one soccer brand by the next World Cup in 2002, a Nike spokesman said. The company currently ranks third behind Adidas and Umbro.

To be a major player in the world of sports globally, there needs to be a strong heritage in soccer, the Nike spokesman said. "Four years ago our product was acceptable but not the best out there," he said.

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

IAC-CREATE-DATE: July 23, 1998

LOAD-DATE: July 24, 1998