Origin Goes Green To Attract Sponsors

Origin, the UK sailing team headed by London 2012 deputy chairman Sir Keith Mills, is to position itself around environmental concern in its quest to attract sponsorship – the latest in a string of sports bodies to focus on green issues.

Origin, which will compete in the 33rd America’s Cup set to take place in either 2009 or 2011, will promote itself as a platform for endorsing environmental products and services as it begins talking to potential sponsors.

‘The America’s Cup ticks a lot of environmental boxes,’ commented Mills.

The sailing team is hoping to have secured its first principal sponsor by the end of the third quarter of this year with a target of between two and four sponsors in total.

Origin is focusing on the high-end luxury and technology brands in its quest for sponsorship.

Environmental credentials are becoming a major issue for sport with Origin following in the footsteps of the Honda F1 team which recently unveiled its livery for the new season, removing all advertising logos in exchange for a large map of the earth to promote environmental concern.