Hanover (pps) The German national team already tests against South Africa, national coach Joachim Löw and Oliver Bierhoff, the manager of the national team, were already searching for an accommodation in South Africa several times. Almost one year before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa, the Continental Corporation already started a local special job training programme in cooperation with the successful tourism-school “Energy Guides” in Johannesburg. From July 2009 until January 2010, 13 so far jobless young women and men from the region around and in Soweto are being prepared for their subsequent task in the hospitality and back-office-team of the Continental Corporation. The international automotive supplier is one the main sponsors of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. More than 200 applications had been received for the job training programme.

“It’s our intention to give these 26 highly motivated South Africans the chance to work on a new professional prospect by our qualification programme. From our experience, there will be a lot to do during the World Cup in order to give our guests from all over the world an unforgettable stay in South Africa. For us, it was obvious to search for a team from the region of Johannesburg which will for sure better be able to arouse enthusiasm for the distinctive culture of South Africa than a team from Europe”, said Heinz-Gerhard Wente, Continental Executive Board member Human Resources.

Johannesburg: A view on the centre of South Africa’s largest city. (Photo: GES/Augenklick)

Besides a deep insight into the tourism-industry and customer service, the job training programme also comprises courses in geography, teamwork and a comprehensive teaching in computer applications as well as the opportunity to gain knowledge about social and ethic values. Special English language courses, information about the FIFA and the sequence of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ as well as information on the aims of communication and sponsoring of the Continental Corporation are completing the programme.

Afterwards, all 26 participants will gain practical experience at prestigious tourism companies for three months, followed by the final preparations and training for the Continental hospitality programme in May. In the case of a successful conclusion of the project, it’s intended by all involved parties that the 26 participants shall continue as regular employees after the end of the Football World Cup.

Soccer City, Johannesburg: A top-class stadium for 94,700 spectators, the pride of South African football, is being constructed on the edge of Soweto. (Photo: GES/Augenklick)

In marketing communication, the Continental Corporation consequently focuses on international football sponsoring since 1995 and gained extensive experience with the realization of hospitality programmes as official partner/sponsor of the UEFA Champions League (1995 to 2000), the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ (2003 to 2006) and the UEFA EURO 2008 (2006 to 2008). Like at the previous tournaments as well, an individual hospitality programme has been developed for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa that especially considers the local characteristics and conditions. The central Continental project team for the activation of football sponsoring heading for South Africa consists of ten employees and is supported by the Swiss agency “Interface Marketing”, a specialist for sponsoring activation.

The division passenger tires of the Continental Corporation is market leader in Europe and South Africa. In Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Continental operates a factory for passenger tires where in 2008 about 2.9 million tires had been produced and sold, both in the original equipment and in replacement tire business, with 1.600 employees altogether. With their light truck factory, which is located in Port Elizabeth as well, they further cover the need south of the Sahara and, thus, also meet the demand in the host country of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.

Continental is market leader for passenger tires in Europe. In original equipment market, more than 30 percent of all European cars leave the factory fitted with Continental tires. Information about football sponsoring are available under: www.ContiSoccerWorld.de.

Media Contact:

Alexander Lührs

Head of Media & Public Relations I Passenger & Light Truck Tire Division

Continental AG I Rubber Group

Büttnerstr. 25 I D-30165 Hannover

Phone: +49 511 / 938 26 15

Email: alexander.luehrs@conti.de

www.ContiSoccerWorld.de

Picture library under http://mediacenter.conti-online.com