Canon Europe was today announced as an Official Sponsor of the UEFA European Football Championship™ which will take place in Austria and Switzerland in June 2008.

The agreement continues Canon’s long-standing association with the game of football going back almost 30 years, including several seasons as official supplier of the UEFA Champions League (1995-2000 and 2004-2006), support for the UEFA European Football Championship™ (1980-1996), the UEFA EURO 2004™ tournament (as official sponsor) and consecutive World Cup tournaments (1978-1998).

Canon Europe’s current football portfolio includes sponsorship of UEFA Cup™ Final matches (from 2006/07 final up to and including the 2008/09 final), the UEFA Super Cup™ match (from 2007 up to and including the August 2008 match). Canon Europe is also Official Sponsor of the MTN Africa Cup of Nations 2008 in Ghana and the Russian Premier Football League.

Commenting on the announcement UEFA General Secretary, David Taylor, said: “Canon has a long history of partnership with football and in particular with the UEFA European Football Championships™. We are therefore delighted that they have now joined forces with UEFA for the staging of UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland, and are looking forward to working together.”

Hajime Tsuruoka, President and CEO of Canon Europe added: “Football is a highly visual and empowering sport and we are delighted to extend our long term association with football by strengthening our partnership with UEFA.”