Wilkinson Sword, represented in Malta by Miller Distributors Limited, will be sponsoring all national waterpolo competitions for the coming three years, starting from this week’s KO competition.
In all Wilkinson Sword will be the ASA’s main sponsors for the forthcoming three national KO competitions (till 2007), three winter leagues (2006 and 2008), and two summer leagues (2006 and 2007).
Details of the agreement were given by Simon Debono, Marketing Manager for Miller Distributors Limited, representatives of Wilkinson Sword in Malta, yesterday at a news conference at the Corinthia San Gorg Hotel.
He said: “Waterpolo is one of the most popular and enduring sports in Malta achieving an impressive standard comparable with nations with far greater human and financial resources than ours. Wilkinson Sword, a company which throughout its 233-year history has always been associated with the highest standards, is delighted to have concluded this agreement which should ensure the continuing development and strengthening of this sport in Malta.”
He also said the company might also extend the agreement in future if this proves to be successful.
Robert Ebejer, President of the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) thanked Miller Distributors for the sponsorship and said: “2004 has been a challenging year for the ASA but it has also become a year of achievement for our organisation. Not having a sponsor for the 2005 national waterpolo championship seemed like a daunting proposition but in reality it turned out to be a fantastic opportunity to establish a relationship with a new sponsor, Wilkinson Sword, who have already demonstrated their commitment to our sport by including this season’s knock-out competitions as well.”
Following the announcement of the new sponsorship agreement, Mr Ebejer and Mr Debono conducted the draws for the Wilkinson Sword 2005 Knock-Out competitions being organised for first and second division teams respectively.
Nikki Lanzon of Neptunes (he was unavoidably absent) and Kurt Sciortino (Ta’ Xbiex) were presented with the 2004 Waterpolo Player of the Year Award for the first and second division respectively.
Also, Angela Galea received a special award from the ASA after becoming the first Maltese swimmer to ever win a gold medal at the Games of the Small States of Europe.
Wilkinson Sword, established in 1772, has over the centuries evolved its business from gun and sword making to the production of razors, for which it is now famous throughout the world. In1889, Wilkinson Sword was the first company to introduce safety razors, a revolutionary invention at the time. The company has maintained its reputation for developing innovative products ever since, including the 2003 launch of the Quattro, the world’s first four blade razor. The Quattro will be available in Malta as from October 2005.