DenzBank
As a result of the partnership between DenizBank and CEV the world’s most prestigious club Volleyball competition is renamed “CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League” for 3 years starting with the 2014 edition.
With this sponsorship, DenizBank boosts its support to various branches of sport and its presence in this area by joining forces with a sports organization like CEV, consisting of 55 member countries, and with a history of almost half a century. With the co-operation provided by DenizBank, giving significant support towards the aim to further develop Volleyball in Europe, the CEV Volleyball Champions League excitement will continue for 3 years under the title sponsorship of DenizBank in about 20 European countries.
The League Round of the 2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League will start tonight and continue through December 18; the Playoffs will follow through January 14-February 13, 2014 before the competitions reaches its climax with the final four tournaments scheduled for March 15-16 (women) and 22-23, 2014 (men).
The partnership between DenizBank and CEV was officially announced on Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at the Swiss Hotel in Istanbul. Hakan Ateş, General Manager of DenizBank, and André Meyer, President of the European Volleyball Confederation, participated in the meeting.
“We’re taking an important step towards the global branding of our Volleyball”
During his speech at the meeting, Hakan Ateş, General Manager of DenizBank, said that this cooperation makes him extremely proud. Mr. Ateş said: “Today, we’re reaching one of the most important milestones of our corporate history. This historic co-operation which brings us together with CEV, the leading institution for Volleyball in Europe, carries our mission to support sports one step further while appreciating Turkish Volleyball that has been achieving significant success in the international arena during the last years. When we look at the history of the Men’s CEV Volleyball Champions League we see that Russia is the most decorated country. In this respect, Volleyball presents a great common ground for Russia as the homeland of Sberbank, our principal shareholder, and Turkey which almost swept all trophies in the women’s European Cups during the last years. I wish our co-operation agreement to be fortunate for all parties and the Turkish sport.”
“Together with DenizBank the CEV Volleyball Champions League will continue to make the headlines also for the years to come”
During his speech at the meeting, André Meyer, President of the European Volleyball Confederation said: “Right from the start of this success story called CEV Volleyball Champions League the world’s best Volleyball players have helped us create a product that stands apart also on the global arena. Last year we made another step forward by acknowledging the huge interest among clubs in Europe to join this family by extending the right of participation to 28 and 24 teams in the men’s and women’s competition respectively. As you all know, Turkey has been a dominant force in recent times by sweeping the three last editions of the women’s Champions League and as far as we have heard, this year Turkish clubs have set their eyes on seizing the trophy also in the men’s division. I am convinced that the partnership with DenizBank – a partner that shares our vision of the sport including its social impact – the CEV Volleyball Champions League will continue to make the headlines also for the coming years.”
CEV & DenizBank co-operation brought together the Volleyball stars
The press meeting about the co-operation between CEV and DenizBank enlivened with the participation of Volleyball legends of the global arena like Tatyana Gracheva and Vladimir Grbić, and Neslihan Demir, the cover player of the Turkish national team. Honored with the “Lifetime Achievement” award in June 2013 by CEV, the former Serbian Volleyball player Vladimir Grbić is now the Vice President of the Serbian Volleyball Federation. Gold medallist at the 2000 Summer Olympics with the Yugoslavian national team, and bronze medallist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Grbić was declared as the “Best Sportsman of the Year” by the Yugoslav Olympic Committee in 1996 and 2000, and won the gold medal in 1999 and 2000 again with the title of the “Best Sportsman” in Yugoslavia.
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As one of the most important representatives of Russian Volleyball in the global arena, Tatyana Gracheva has important achievements like winning a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with the Russia national team, and gold medals at the European Championships in 1993, 1997 and 2001. Gracheva also won the “Best Setter” award at the 1994 World Championship and 2001 World Grand Champions Cup.
Putting her stamp on the sport history as the captain of Turkey’s first Volleyball national team to compete at the Olympic Games, Neslihan Demir is known as the “Iron Lady of Turkish Volleyball”. As the only player to be named the “Best Scorer” for two consecutive editions of the World Championship, Demir was honoured with the “Best Scorer” award at the 2006 World Championship after scoring 225 points, and also in the 2010 World Championship charting 251. Demir is currently playing for Eczacıbaşı VitrA and is set to headline the 2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League.
DenizBank supports sports and athletes
In scope of its goal to support the development of all branches of sport in Turkey, and to help spread the sport culture to a base as wide as possible, DenizBank makes significant investments in all branches of sport and especially in football. As the only bank of Turkey financing football clubs, DenizBank integrates with the society by supporting sport and touches people’s lives in a common platform and with a shared energy.
Besides its financial support to Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş, Trabzonspor and Bursaspor as the top 5 of Turkey, and to other distinguished clubs of Anatolia, DenizBank also has a Fan Card portfolio, and the Manchester United Bonus Card, specially designed for Manchester United fans in Turkey. In this scope, DenizBank creates an integrated value by following up on its sponsorship agreements and special financing opportunities for the clubs that it supports with advantageous cards for fans.
The lounges at Türk Telekom Arena, Ali Sami Yen Sport Complex of Galatasaray, are named “Deniz Club Lounge”. As of September 2013, DenizBank’s credit volume for sport clubs is more than 592 million TL. Presenting fans advantages like getting special discounts, providing financial support for their clubs, and winning free uniforms or match tickets with their Bonus Cards, DenizBank also sponsored the Turkish Offshore Racing Club (TAYK) for many years. In the 2010-2011 seasons the bank sponsored Nevin Yanit and Burcu Ayhan, athletes in the track and field team of Fenerbahçe, winning championships across Europe, and also supports the Galatasaray Wheelchair Basketball Team.
