Today adidas presented the Official Match Ball for the UEFA Champions League™ Final in Moscow on May 21st: the adidas “Finale Moscow”. At Maneznhay Square in the very heart of Moscow, overlooking the Kremlin, David Taylor, Franz Beckenbauer, Rinat Dassaev and Valery Mutko unveiled the red and gold adidas ball for the UEFA Champions League™ Final. The 2.5 metre high replica of the adidas “Finale Moscow” was presented to the citizens of Moscow in front of an impressive backdrop. A red and gold silk cloth measuring 200 square metres veiled the giant-size match ball, an original-size football goal and 300 match balls, several of which were distributed to citizens of Moscow immediately following the event, with the majority of the balls being donated to schools in Moscow.
The Russian capital is hosting its first UEFA Champions League™ Final. Europe’s top two football clubs in the 2007/2008 season will compete in the Final in Luzhniki Stadium, Russia’s biggest sports arena, playing the first official fixture with the adidas “Finale Moscow”. Subsequently, the winner of the 2007/2008 UEFA Champions League™ Final will use this ball in all its home games during the 2008/2009 UEFA Champions League™ season.
The design of the adidas “Finale Moscow” is based on the widely recognizable UEFA Champions League™ star ball logo. Tied in with the UEFA campaign for the Final in Moscow, the colours of the new match ball are dominated by dark red stars with golden detailing. The adidas designers took their inspiration in particular from the colours of the Red Square, the Kremlin and the gold domes of Moscow’s numerous cathedrals.
Just like for the ball for the 2007 Final, the “Finale Athens”, well-known colours and elements of the host city are incorporated in the design of the 2008 match ball, highlighting the standing of the most important game for European club teams.
Like the “EUROPASS”, the match ball for the UEFA EURO 2008™, the adidas “Finale Moscow” features the new surface structure, PSC-Texture™. This new surface structure allows players to control and direct the ball perfectly in all weather conditions. The PSC-Texture™ consists of a sophisticated and extremely fine structure on the ball's outer skin that guarantees optimum grip between ball and boot. In addition, like the “EUROPASS”, the adidas “Finale Moscow” is constructed out of 14 panels using revolutionary Thermal Bonding Technology.
The adidas “Finale Moscow” is available at retail worldwide starting immediately.
adidas’ experience in football production is unsurpassed anywhere in the world. adidas has been making footballs since 1963 and is now the world’s leading manufacturer, always at the cutting edge of technology. adidas has supplied the official match balls to all major UEFA and FIFA tournaments since 1970, and since 2008 is also the Official Supplier of the match ball for the Africa Cup of Nations organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
adidas will continue to use innovative technology to extend its leading position in football worldwide. This will further strengthen adidas’ position as the authentic symbol of high-performance sports equipment for professionals and amateurs alike. adidas also intends to unveil more revolutionary ball innovations for future UEFA, FIFA and CAF competitions.
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