Continental Benelux is partner and top sponsor of Olympique Lyon since the start of the saison 2001/2002. Beside of boardings in the stadium Continental is also using tickets available to visit the home games of the team together with busines customers and journalists. For some selected home games Continental France has realised radio ticket promotions for end consumer which are very popular. After the signing as a partner of the French National Team Continental France has reduced the volume of the sponsorship with Olympic Lyon.

Since the beginning of 2005 Continental France is "only" one of several sponsors that is using boardings in the stadium and using the tickets available to visit home games of the team together with business customers and journalists.

Lyon, Avenue Jean Jaures: one of the top addresses in French football and the address of Olympique Lyon, the three-time French Championship winners.

Over the past years Olympique, who come from the heart of the republic, have stepped out of the shadows of the traditional clubs such as Olympique Marseille, Paris St. Germain and AS Monaco to become one of clubs at the very forefront of football in the Grande Nation.

Lyon and the Municipal de Gerland stadium, a showplace of the 1998 FIFA World Cup™, have progressed to become strongholds guaranteeing success as Lyonhas won the Championships three time in a row since 2002. And there’s no end in sight.

The Lyonaisse club has already played 20 times in European competitions but they have never been held in such high esteem than at the moment. Olympique has blossomed into a top European club and is looking to win its first European title.

The club’s “control centre” is Jean-Michel Aulas, who took hold of the reins in Lyon in 1987. Olympique were playing in the second division at the time and stood in AS St Etienne’s – their neighbours – shadow. Today, Olympique is regarded as the richest club in France and it is all down to Auslas’ work.

One talks in Lyon of the brand “Olympique”, which includes a chain of hairdressers, restaurants and a driving school. Fifteen million Euro flows from this source of income every year. In the meantime Lyon has a budget of 80 million Euro per year at its disposal. As a result, the club has the biggest and best squad of players in its history. Olympique appeared for the sixth time in succession in the Champions League in the 2004/2005 season.

Recognised as the father of the success and as a man of deeds, Auslas made the inspired decision to appoint Paul Le Guen (born on 1 March 1964). After only two years, the Breton Le Guen already has two titles to his name and that Olympique is flying high is down to his work. Le Guen was himself a successful player, especially when playing for Paris St Germain. The sweeper and midfielder was capped 17 times for France and between 1993 and 1998 he accumulated winners medals galore: the Championship, European Cup Winners’ Cup, the cup three times and the League Cup twice.

After Le Guen hung his football boots up, he became team coach in Stade Rennes and staved off relegation for three seasons. However, Le Guen, who also has an economics degree to his name, was given his walking orders and then landed job as team coach in Lyon in 2002. It was a stroke of luck for Olympique.

Le Guen has gained a lot of respect in Europe with few words, without pathos, with a little detachment between him and his players but with a high degree of professionalism. At his side: the goalkeeping coach Joel Batts, who is also a former French international.

There’s a big Brazilian element at Olympique. Cacapa and Cris play in defence, the Brazilian international Juninho Pernambucano is in midfield and the forward Nilmar also has a contract. In additon, there’s Diatta from Senegal and Diarra from Mali. The remaining players are French.

The German football magazine “kicker” wrote about France’s new and very successful star-ensemble at the end of 2004: “Lyon has stood out for months with its technically excellent football played at pace. Le Guen places a big emphasis on the athleticism of his players. The coach can count on a squad containing class players and one that contains an ideal mixture of experienced and young players. In front of Coupet – No 2  goalkeeper behind Bartez in the national team – there’s a reliable flat back four with the Brazilians Caçapa and Cris as central defenders. Réveillère (right) and Abidal make up the rest of the defence. Essien, Diarra and Juninho are a marvellous trio in midfield, strong when defending but also dangerous in front of goal, especially at dead ball situations. On the wings, the French international Govou (right) and Malouda (left) are more offensively orientated. One of the teams weaknesses lies up front. Frau only scored four goals. Nilmar has more talent but the 18-year-old Brazilian lacks experience.”

Giovane Elber, the Brazilian bought from Bayern Munich in 2003 has already packed his bags again. He returned to Germany in January 2005 and will now be turning out for Borussia Mönchengladbach. Elber can no longer fulfil his desire of winning another title in Lyon. But Olympique still has a dream: to win a fourth title on the trot in summer 2005. For Avenue Jean Jaures in Lyonis one of the top addresses in European football.