Barcelona agree sponsorship deal with DR Congo to promote tourism
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Girona - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - March 30, 2025 General view of a corner flag inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo
KINSHASA - Democratic Republic of Congo has agreed to pay more than 40 million euros ($46.37 million) in a sponsorship deal with Spanish soccer club Barcelona that would see a logo promoting tourism appear on some team apparel, according to a contract seen on Thursday by Reuters.
The contract with Barcelona is dated June 29 and stipulates that a logo branding the war-hit Central African country as the "heart of Africa" will appear on the backs of training and warm-up jerseys for the men's and women's teams.
The logo will also appear in advertising for the club and in the club magazine and annual report, the contract says.
Congo will pay the club between 10 million and 11.5 million euros annually over the next four seasons, it says.
Details of the deal between Congo and Barcelona have not been announced.
AS Monaco and AC Milan last month also announced sponsorship deals with Congo without disclosing the amounts.
Congolese sports minister Didier Budimbu told Reuters the contract with AS Monaco is worth 1.6 million euros per season. He did not disclose the amounts for the contracts with AC Milan and Barcelona.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore
World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report
Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho
Asia Air India probe of Boeing 787 fuel control switches finds no issues
Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore
Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment
Singapore Two women jailed for submitting fake university certificates to MOM for employment passes
Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail
A Congolese government source said the contract with AC Milan was worth 14 million euros per season.
Announcing the AC Milan deal on June 20, Congolese tourism minister Didier M'Pambia said it was part of a government strategy "to reposition the DRC on the international stage as an undisputed leader on the African continent" by promoting tourism and investment opportunities.
Congo's tourism ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday, while Barcelona told Reuters they had no comment at this time.
In February Congo's foreign minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner urged football clubs Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain to end their "blood-stained" sponsorship agreements with "Visit Rwanda".
The appeal came less than a week after M23 rebels seized eastern Congo's biggest city, Goma as part of a lightning advance.
Rwanda denies backing M23, saying it is defending itself.
A report by a group of United Nations experts obtained by Reuters this month said Kigali exercised command and control over the rebels during their advance, gaining political influence and access to mineral-rich territory. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
43 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Boxing-Former undisputed world champion Taylor forced to retire over eye issue
Former undisputed light-welterweight world champion Josh Taylor has retired from boxing on medical advice over a recurring eye issue that could risk him losing his eyesight, the 34-year-old said on Monday. Taylor, the only British male boxer to win all four belts in a single division, became the undisputed champion in the 140-pound weight class with a win over Jose Ramirez in 2021. Undefeated Taylor successfully defended his undisputed title against Jack Catterall the next year, his 19th professional win in a row, before losing three fights by decision, most recently against Ekbow Essuman in May. "This isn't an easy post for me to write, but on the advice of my doctors, it's sadly a necessary one," Taylor wrote on Instagram. "As has been publicised before, I've had a recurring issue with my eye that unfortunately means I now have to call time on my career or risk losing my eyesight." Taylor represented Britain at the 2012 Olympics and won gold at the next year's Commonwealth Games before turning professional in 2015. "I am just a kid from the Pans who scaled the very top of the sport but I could not have done it without those who have supported me through thick and thin," Taylor added. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia At least 19 killed as Bangladesh air force plane crashes into college campus Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Singapore ST Explains: What does it mean for etomidate to be listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act? Business Why Singapore and its businesses stand to lose with US tariffs on the region Singapore NTU introduces compulsory cadaver dissection classes for medical students from 2026 Singapore Fine, driving ban for bus driver who hit lorry in BKE crash, causing fractures to passenger Singapore Jail for man who conspired with another to bribe MOH agency employee with $18k Paris trip Singapore New research institute will grow S'pore's talent in nuclear energy, safety
Business Times
43 minutes ago
- Business Times
US: Wall Street opens higher with tech earnings, trade updates in focus
[NEW YORK] Wall Street's main indexes opened higher on Monday (Jul 21), as investors welcomed the prospects of new trade deals to kick off a week packed with earnings from tech giants that could dictate the market's next move. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 26.2 points, or 0.06 per cent, at the open to 44,368.4. The S&P 500 rose 7.9 points, or 0.13 per cent, at the open to 6,304.74, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 64.7 points, or 0.31 per cent, to 20,960.33 at the opening bell. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Wimbledon expansion planning permission cleared by UK court after challenge
A protestor, dressed as a strawberry, from the campaign group Save Wimbledon Park, holds a sign which says \"Berry Angry\" outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain, July 8, 2025. REUTERS/Sam Tobin LONDON - Wimbledon's plans to expand the grounds for the world's oldest and most prestigious Grand Slam in tennis overcame its first legal hurdle on Monday, as London's High Court rejected a challenge to the project by campaigners. Campaign group Save Wimbledon Park took legal action over planning permission granted to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), which wants to treble the size of its main site in a 200 million-pound ($269.6-million) project. The expansion would feature 39 new courts, including an 8,000-seat show court, could increase daily capacity from 42,000 to 50,000 people, and allow qualifying rounds to be held on site, which has been home to the Championships since 1877. The AELTC's plans to redevelop a former golf course which it owns are supported by several leading players, including Novak Djokovic, and some local residents. Planning permission was approved by the Greater London Authority last year, but Save Wimbledon Park argued at a hearing this month that the GLA failed to properly take account of restrictions on redeveloping the land, agreed when the AELTC's parent company bought the golf course freehold in 1993. Judge Pushpinder Saini rejected Save Wimbledon Park's challenge to the lawfulness of planning permission, but Wimbledon's plans still face another legal hurdle about the status of the land, which will be heard early next year. REUTERS
