Press Room

›Tennis Europe and Polar Bring Technical and Training Solutions to Europe’s Coaches and Players

03/09/2008

Tennis Europe, the largest regional association of the sport's governing body, the International Tennis Federation, and Polar Electro Oy, based in Finland and the pioneer and leader of heart rate training systems, have announced a three-year partnership agreement recognising Polar as the Official Training Computer Partner of Tennis Europe.

The deal is effective immediately and will last until July 2011, and represents Polar's first step into the European tennis market. The partnership focuses on Tennis Europe's strong ties with the coaching and junior tennis communities, and is designed to benefit coaches and young players through education and the promotion of the use of Polar equipment in order to maximise performance and technical analysis.

Polar's primary focus is in heart rate based training solutions, an essential element of modern tennis training. However, their comprehensive product range offers solutions for all active people whether the goal is to increase fitness and health or to compete at championship level.

As a part of the agreement, Polar will play an active part at a number of special events for players and coaches, including the presenting sponsor role at the European Coaches' Symposium, Europe's most important biannual gathering of top coaches, as well as partnership with the ITF Worldwide Coaches Conference in 2008.

Polar will also become the presenting sponsor of the ‘Tennis Europe Junior Tour Player of the Year' Award, which recognises the achievements of Europe's top Under 14 and Under 16 players.

Tennis Europe Chief Executive Officer, Olli Mäenpää explains: "Players and coaches have come to rely on technical equipment in matters of fitness monitoring, and Polar has always been at the forefront of such technology. Our aim is to enable Polar to use these platforms to speak directly to their key audiences in our 49 member nations, further strengthening their already strong market position whilst simultaneously benefiting and improving the performances of our coaches and players."

Polar CEO, Sari Säynäjäkangas added: "Tennis Europe represents the ideal entry point to the European tennis market and offers us exciting opportunities to showcase our range of products to tennis players and coaches of all ages and abilities. Whilst tennis is a performance sport, I have no doubt that many of the 25 million leisure players across the continent can benefit greatly from learning to monitor and harness information about their fitness and all round health using Polar products."

Further Information:

TENNIS EUROPE
Tennis Europe (by constitution European Tennis Federation) is the largest regional association of the sport's governing body, the International Tennis Federation. As a non-profit organizing body of European tennis, based in Basel, Switzerland, Tennis Europe is comprised of 49 member nations and cooperates with constituent national federations to sanction, manage and support approximately 1000 international tennis tournaments each year across the continent. Tennis Europe maintains excellent relations with the ATP and WTA Tours, European Union, and the wider tennis industry.

Zur Gempenfluh 36
CH-4059 Basel, Switzerland

Telephone +41 61 335 9040 Fax +41 61 331 72 53
E-mail contactus@tenniseurope.org Website www.TennisEurope.org

For further information please contact:
Jonathan Jobson, Communications Manager

Tel/Fax: +34 93 303 7887
E-mail jonathanj@tenniseurope.org

POLAR
Polar has been pioneering a revolution in training and leading the heart rate monitoring category with original thinking and innovative products. With over 30 years of experience Polar is the global leader in providing training technology and solutions with true passion and personality for those who seek fitness and sports performance. For more information please visit www.polar.fi.

For further information, contact:
Toni Roponen, Sports Marketing Manager, Polar Electro Oy, on +358 8 5202 213