FIVB and Gerflor Taraflex Extend Partnership

July 31, 2008 - PRLog -- In recognition of their productive partnership, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and Gerflor, the parent company of Taraflex Sports Flooring, extended their current exclusive four-year agreement for an additional four years. The official partnership between the FIVB and Gerflor began on January 1, 2005 and now will continue through December 31, 2012.

This agreement with the world’s largest and most recognized volleyball organization positions Gerflor to serve as an official supplier at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Through their current agreement, Gerflor is supplying 14 volleyball courts in seven different locations for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing in August.

The FIVB, which includes 218 affiliated national federations around the world, has authorized Taraflex courts with Sport M Plus flooring for all its sanctioned competitions and events internationally including:  

•   Senior World Championships (Men and Women)
•   Junior World Championships (Men and Women under 20/21)
•   World League preliminary round and finals
•   World Grand Prix Finals
•   Olympic Games qualification tournaments
•   Olympic Games in London in 2012
•   World Cups (Men and Women)  
•   Any new future competitions created by the FIVB

“We are very pleased and honored to extend our major partnership with the FIVB,” says Gerflor International Sports Flooring Director Pierre Lienhard. “This agreement is mutually advantageous. Taraflex courts appear at prestigious, high-profile events and FIVB players benefit from innovative surfaces renowned for their safety, performance and comfort.”

The working relationship between Gerflor and the FIVB originated with the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976.

Volleyball continues to grow in popularity with an increase from 30 million players in 1984 to more than 45 million in 2008. Volleyball is now one of the five most popular international sports. The Lausanne, Switzerland-based FIVB is the largest international sporting federation in the world. Learn more at www.fivb.org.

Taraflex® Sport M Plus has a 35% shock absorption rate and correct co-efficient of friction for turning and accelerating ease and accurate ball bounce. Proprietary product treatments Sanosol® and Triple Action Protecsol® prevent bacteria growth; reduce the risk of skin-related infections and friction burns. Sport M Plus is seven-millimeter-thick environmentally friendly flooring with up to 43% recycled content and can be 100% recycled at the end of its lifespan. Sport M Plus is available in two natural wood finishes and 15 colors.

More than 325 million square feet of Taraflex Sports Flooring has been installed around the world. Taraflex floors are ISO 9001 and 14001 certified. Taraflex floors meet and exceed the stringent performance standards mandated by all major flooring associations. Visit www.gerflortaraflex.com.

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Taraflex Sports Flooring by Gerflor is a world leader in indoor synthetic sports and multipurpose flooring. The Taraflex line includes 14 different products designed for superior performance, durability, easy maintenance and with recycled content.