Canon has become the first company to serve as an official sponsor for the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, which will take place in 12 host cities across the country from 20 September to 2 November.
Hosted every four years, the Rugby World Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events with the world’s top 20 national teams competing across 48 matches to win the ultimate prize in the sport, the Webb Ellis Cup.
Japan 2019 will be the event’s ninth edition and the first in Asia. The 2015 Tournament, which was hosted in England, was the best attended with 2.48 million fans and the most viewed, with record broadcast, digital and social coverage in more than 207 nations.
As with other sporting competitions in the past, Canon will provide behind-the-scenes support to members of the press covering the Rugby World Cup 2019, including camera and lens maintenance services and product loans, to enable photographers to capture all the action of the tournament. The Canon Group will also provide print and copying solutions used by the Tournament Organising Committee, supporting the event by facilitating the printout of handout materials and the streamlining of document workflows.
As a Rugby World Cup 2019 official sponsor, Canon offers the full support of its diverse imaging businesses, ranging from cameras, lenses, video camcorders and network cameras to copiers, multifunction devices, printers, projectors and medical equipment.
Canon Inc. Chairman and CEO Fujio Mitarai said, ‘Following on from Rugby World Cup 2015 in England, Canon is delighted to continue backing the tournament, which will take place in Asia for the first time, as an official sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan. In addition to supporting professional photographers from Japan and overseas as they capture the intense action of the world’s top teams facing off in peak condition; Canon, working together with the organising committee, relevant authorities, local government and other corporate sponsors, will do the utmost to support Rugby World Cup 2019 throughout Japan.’
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said, ‘We are delighted to be extending our relationship with Canon as a Rugby World Cup 2019 official sponsor. Canon is an important supporter of rugby in Japan, an innovator in its field and a perfect match for our premier event.’
