Length of contract: 2 years | Annualised value: US$200,000 | Overall value: US$400,000

Infront Sports & Media's Austrian-based subsidiary, APF Marketing Services, has prolonged its exclusive marketing contract with the International Biathlon Union (IBU) for the next five years. Among the sponsors APF has secured for the IBU over the course of their deal are sports brand Adidas, energy company E.ON and Erdinger beer. The new deal guarantees the IBU significantly increased revenues.

The IBU covers the winter version of biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and rifle-shooting. It has been an Olympic sport since 1960. The deal between the IBU and APF encompasses the 2010 Winter Olympics Vancouver.

"We have shared a close and harmonious working relationship with the IBU since 1992 and carried out successful basic groundwork together during the past years. As a result, the sport of biathlon has developed from a niche sport into one of the most popular winter sports. Today it is an attractive and valuable marketing platform for major brands and we see strong potential for further growth," said Dr. Stefan Seykora, APF's managing director. "Fortunately, we are in a position to make a significantly increased financial contribution to the IBU, despite the current economic chill. The increased guarantee adequately reflects the positive development of the IBU's sponsorship platforms."

Bruno Marty, Infront's executive director of winter sports, said: "Biathlon is a cornerstone of our wintersports portfolio. Our degree of specialisation offers an important advantage for sponsors."