The Australian Olympic Committee today announced Toyota Australia has signed as the exclusive automotive partner of the Australian Olympic Team for this year’s Games in Rio de Janeiro and the PyeongChang Winter Games in 2018.

The partnership extends Toyota Australia’s long-term commitment to the Olympic family, which began 28 years ago with the Australian bobsleigh team in Calgary.

Toyota Australia – now in its 14th straight year as the best-selling automotive brand in Australia – continues as an official sponsor of the Australian Paralympic Team, an association that began in 2004.

AOC President and IOC Vice President John Coates welcomed the commitment from Toyota Australia to invest in the Olympic movement in Australia.

“Toyota’s support comes at a vital time for our athletes with the Opening Ceremony in Rio less than three months away,” Coates said.

“This partnership with Toyota will play a significant role in ensuring a successful campaign by the Australian Olympic Team at the first Games to be held in South America.

“Without the generosity of sponsors like Toyota, the AOC would not be able to provide the funds to send the 2016 Australian Olympic Team to Rio.”

Toyota Australia President Dave Buttner said the company looks forward to contributing to a spectacular 2016 Rio Games for Australia.

“Toyota’s association with the Australian Olympic Team will support our elite athletes as they strive to achieve record-breaking results in the Olympic spirit of friendly competition and fair play,” Buttner said.

“Our involvement with the Olympic movement, as well as our AFL and Cricket Australia sponsorships, recognises that sport is a powerful force for bringing people together.

“We strongly believe that, by uniting under the Olympic flag in Rio, athletes from all participating nations can demonstrate how to make the world a better place.”

Toyota Australia will activate the partnership through its national network of more than 200 dealers as well as its toyota.com.au website, marketing initiatives and social media channels.

In 2015, parent company Toyota Motor Corporation announced an agreement to be the world’s first automotive company as a top-tier Olympic sponsor.  It has also become a worldwide Paralympic partner.

The world’s most successful automotive company has been granted sponsorship rights in Japan through 2016 with those rights extending globally from 2017 to 2024.

Image: Announcing Toyota’s sponsorship, AOC President and IOC Vice President John Coates, Toyota corporate manager marketing Lisa Webster and Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller.