Etihad Airways has extended its sponsorship of Sport Australia Hall of Fame until 2019.
The announcement was made at Australia's most prestigious sporting awards ceremony, the 2014 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Annual Induction and Awards Gala Dinner, held in Melbourne.
James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said, "Etihad Airways is proud to re-sign as Major Sponsor of Sport Australia Hall of Fame for another four years to July 2019.
"We are particularly pleased to be the presenting partner of the Annual Induction and Awards Dinner which celebrates the highest calibre of Australian athletes and the skill, passion and dedication of Australia's sporting greats. It is a unique opportunity for the airline to pay tribute to yesterday's sporting legends and to give talented young athletes the support to become tomorrow's champions." Hogan also said the partnership with Sport Australia Hall of Fame was a perfect fit with Etihad Airways' own values of playing to win and ambition to be best-in-class.
"Just as winning is the goal of every athlete, being the world's best airline is Etihad Airways' aim. It underpins our strategy; it inspires us to deliver excellence; it is the essence of our culture of innovation." Hogan congratulated the five recipients of the 2015 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Programme, which is also sponsored by the airline.
"The opportunity to help young Australian athletes become champions of the future is one of the greatest rewards of this partnership and something of which we are proud. We wish these talented young athletes every success." John Bertrand, AM, Sport Australia Hall of Fame Chairman, said, "To become a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame is the ultimate accolade for athletes in Australia. One can go no higher. So it is with Etihad Airways and The Sport Australia Hall of Fame. This renewal extends our partnership to 10 years (2009-2019) with the ‘World's Leading Airline' - a remarkable example of excellence combined with excellence."