Intersport to start cooperation with the Finnish national alpine ski team

Intersport sports stores and the Finnish national alpine ski team have signed a cooperation agreement according to which Intersport will be the official sports store of the national alpine ski team. The term of the cooperation agreement is until the 2010 Olympic year.

Intersport is the leading sports store chain in Finland and cooperation with the national alpine ski team will give alpine and downhill skiing added visibility in the Intersport stores. Clothes, clothing accessories and other national team products will be included in Intersports' selections.

"Downhill equipment is a significant product group for Intersport, and alpine sports are increasingly popular. This new cooperation agreement is intended to help us tell our customers that the best equipment and accessories for the sport are available at the Intersport stores," says Juha Nurminen, Presidentof Intersport Finland.

"The national team will have major presence in the sports stores throughout the country. In the future, special national team products will be available to the Finnish alpine skiing enthusiasts. We are very happy about this agreement," says Alpine Sports Marketing Director Roope Ropponen of Infront Finland Oy.

There are 56 Intersport stores in Finland. Intersport's strengths include the chain's reliability, recognition among customers, wide and diversified selections, and its expert and service-minded staff.

Further information:
Juha Nurminen, President, Intersport Finland Ltd, tel. +358 50 525 3847
Roope Ropponen, Alpine Sports Marketing Director, Infront Finland Oy, tel. +358 50 62 600

Kesko (www.kesko.fi) is a retail specialist whose stores offer quality to the daily lives of consumers. Kesko has about 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations inthe Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia, and Belarus.