Basketball Australia & Jayco Expand Sponsorship Deal

Basketball Australia and Jayco have announced a new multi-year deal that will see the Australian brand extend its existing sponsorship of the Australian women’s basketball team to the entire women’s national team program.

The Australian women’s basketball team – known as the Opals – have been sponsored by Jayco since 2010. Jayco, the Australian RV industry leader, will now also sponsor the Emerging Opals, the Under-19 Gems and Under-19 girls national teams to the 2016 Olympic Games.

Basketball Australia CEO Kristina Keneally said: “Jayco is a household name with an outstanding reputation; the company has shown incredible generosity towards basketball and a host of other Australian sports.

“Basketball Australia is extremely pleased to expand our partnership with Jayco across the entire women’s national program at the same time that we’re bolstering the program’s resources – including a full-time Head Coach and a streamlined Road to Rio strategy at the BA National Centre of Excellence.

“In particular, I’d like to acknowledge Jayco’s Managing Director Gerry Ryan for his continued and invaluable support for women’s basketball.

“For more than 16 years, Gerry has thrown significant financial backing behind Australian basketball – particularly women’s basketball – on top of the substantial personal support he has extended to many players through employment, education and sports science.

“On behalf of the basketball community, I’d like to thank Gerry for his personal and professional support of our sport and its athletes – we look forward to working with the Jayco family as we build towards the 2016 Olympic Games.”

Founder and Managing Director of Jayco Gerry Ryan OAM added: “We’re delighted to continue our involvement with the Jayco Opals and expand our support across the women’s program.

“I’m extremely proud of this team. The Opals have medalled at five Olympic Games, they’re a force to be reckoned with at an international level and a number of our athletes are among the best in the world.

“The team and Head Coach Brendan Joyce are to be commended for the work they’ve done in recent months to establish a cohesive, disciplined team culture – and we’ve already seen that paying off with the success they’ve enjoyed during their friendly tour of China in June and their win over the New Zealand Tall Ferns this week.

“We’re pleased to have the Opals as part of the Jayco family, and we look forward to working the entire women’s national team program over the coming years.”