The little panda Fu Long is happy about his trip home
to China. He was insured along the way by a custom
transport insurance policy from UNIQA.
In the year 2009 UNIQA continued implementation of its strategy for improving the Group’s level of recognition and positioning as a European quality brand with Austrian roots through a series of targeted sponsoring initiatives.
The sponsoring highlight of the year was insuring the trip of the panda bear Fu Long, born in the Vienna Zoo in Schönbrunn in 2007, to his future home in China. The cooperation between UNIQA and the Schönbrunn Zoo began even before that with an individual transport insurance policy for transporting both parents from their home to Vienna. UNIQA now also insured the transport of Fu Long by truck from the Schönbrunn Zoo to the Vienna-Schwechat Airport as well as the flight to China operated by China Air Cargo.
In the area of cultural sponsoring, UNIQA was once again one of the main sponsors of the Salzburg Festival and the Grafenegg Music Festival in 2009. Substantial support was also given to Seefestspiele Mörbisch and the Vienna State Opera House as well as the production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” at the Volksoper Vienna. Additional sponsoring contributions went to exhibitions at Austrian museums, including the Albertina, the Austrian Gallery Belvedere, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the MUMOK. The highlight in 2009 of the UNIQA ArtCercle, a special programme for art-loving customers, was a preview two days before the opening of “The Age of Rembrandt” exhibition at the Albertina. The illuminated manuscript on the life and legend of Saint Wenceslas purchased several years ago by UNIQA was lent to the Austrian National Library for its exhibit “Wenceslas of Bohemia – Saint and Ruler”. The UNIQA Group also sponsors various local artists and art initiatives in its international markets.
Around 1,000 art aficinados visited the eight exclusive events held by UNIQA ArtCercle in 2009. |
The illuminated manuscript on the life of Saint Wenceslas owned by UNIQA was presented on loan to the Austrian National Library as part of an exhibition from 26 November 2009 to 31 January 2010. |
Professional athletes feel safe with insurance
coverage from UNIQA.
In the area of sports, UNIQA successfully continued its long-running partnership with the two skiing aces Benjamin Raich and Marlies Schild. The power pair of Austrian sports represents the ideal embodiment of the “new generation” for UNIQA, making them perfect advertising figures. The UNIQA initiative with the two athletes to promote the use of ski helmets and back protection was also continued in 2009.
A new partner was also obtained for Raiffeisen Versicherung in 2009 in the person of ex-skiing racer Matthias Lanzinger. Matthias Lanzinger will act not only as an advertising figure but will also be available at events as an ambassador for financial security. For example, as part of the Raiffeisen Security Check, he spoke about the importance of security within his own life and about the motivation to start his life over after his serious accident in March 2009.
Cooperation with renowned athletes in the Eastern and South Eastern European markets, such as with the Slovakian slalom specialist Veronika Zuzulová, the trainer of the Croatian national football team Slaven Bili´c, the Serbian basketball legend Aleksandar Djord¯ evi´c, the Montenegrin water polo player Alaksandar Ivovi´c and the Bulgarian world-class track and field athlete Ivet Lalova, also contributed to improving awareness of the successful UNIQA brand in this important region.
UNIQA is also sponsoring the national Special Olympic Games in summer 2010 in St. Pölten. Roughly 2,000 athletes will take part in this exceptional international event that is taking place within the framework of the global Special Olympics initiative. The Special Olympics were founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and offer year-round training and competition opportunities in 26 different Olympic disciplines for more than 2.5 million children eight and older as well as adolescents and adults with mental disabilities from 180 nations around the world.
UNIQA CEO Konstantin Klien and RZB Chairman
Walter Rothensteiner present Caritas Director
Michael Landau with a check for €70,000 for the
“Mobile Caritas Hospice” initiative.
In the area of social sponsoring, in 2009 UNIQA once again donated a large amount together with Raiffeisen Zentralbank to the Mobile Caritas Hospice, making another important contribution to the care and treatment of people suffering from severe and incurable diseases within their familiar environments. The “Pink Ribbon” campaign was also supported again in 2009 as part of the fight against breast cancer and to raise awareness of prevention opportunities and the risks of the disease. Like many other buildings and sights throughout the world, the UNIQA Tower was once again blanketed in pink light on 1 October, World Breast Cancer Day. A breast cancer informational evening was also held at UNIQA Innsbruck on 8 October during the “Pink Ribbon” tour.
The UNIQA Group also supports various charitable initiatives in its international markets. The support for a special institute for children in Komanski Most in cooperation with the Montenegrin pop singer Sergej C´ etkovi´c, which was continued last year, is one example.
