Yahoo! Canada launches The Kick
Posted on 9 April 2007 in Sponsors & Partnerships
OTTAWA (ONTARIO) The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and Yahoo! Canada have launched a new interactive soccer website called The Kick (http://theKick.Yahoo.ca). This new micro-site acts as an online community for fans, teams and players across the country.Yahoo! Canada was recently introduced as the CSA's official online partner and a national-team sponsor. Yahoo! Canada is one of the presenting sponsors for the Hyundai Canadian men's U-20 tour presented by Yahoo! Canada. They are also a presenting sponsor for Tide Mini Soccer, an international youth-development program targeted at children aged 5-10.
We are delighted to partner with the Canadian Soccer Association because it allows us to play a role in helping promote the game at all levels, says Kerry Munro, general manager for Yahoo! Canada. Soccer is the number-one participatory sport in Canada. This association fits perfectly with our mission of connecting people to their passions and their communities with the proper tools and technology.
The Kick features photos of national-team players and video footage from Canada's international matches around the world. Soccer fans are encouraged to show their passion by uploading their own images and video clips. Visitors can ask soccer questions while other visitors can showcase their knowledge by answering those very questions. National teams also highlighted through player profiles and the men's U-20 blog maintained on the team manager's Yahoo! 360˚. Fans can join and interact with the men's U-20 team by creating their own Yahoo! 360˚.
These are truly exciting times for soccer in Canada, says Canadian Soccer Association president Colin Linford. Yahoo! Canada is an integral partner and team player in this venture. You don't win games or develop elite players without the support of sponsors like Yahoo! Canada.
The Kick will become an important part of the Canadian soccer community, one which has been expanding by leaps and bounds in 2007. Along with being the hosts of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, Canada is sending their senior national teams to the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States (men) and the FIFA Women's World Cup China 2007 (women). The U-20 team is preparing for Canada 2007 with six returning players from the last FIFA U-20 World Cup (Nederland 2005) while the U-17 team is vying for a spot at the FIFA U-17 World Cup (CONCACAF qualifications kick off later this month). This year, Canadian soccer fans will also witness the birth of Major League Soccer expansion franchise Toronto FC and the opening of the National Soccer Stadium in Toronto.
