PARIS, Jan 17, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Nike (NYSE:NKE) announced its partnership with the French Football Federation today at the Espace Cambon, unveiling the new team kits with French players Abou Diaby, Alou Diarra, Florent Malouda and Yann MVila, France Coach Laurent Blanc and NIKE, Inc. President and CEO, Mark Parker.

The elegantly designed kits combine French style and tradition with Nike product innovation to deliver a distinctive kit engineered to maximize performance and minimize environmental impact.

"France is one of the most successful and well known teams in the world and we look forward to delivering innovative products to help them perform on the pitch," said Mark Parker, NIKE, Inc. President and CEO. "This is a significant moment for Nike Football and we are proud to be the official partner of the French Federation and to be part of the future of French football."

The kit design adheres to the tradition and standards of French style and design excellence while enabling players to perform at their best every time they pull on the famous French shirt.

France Coach Laurent Blanc commented: "This jersey represents the spirit of French elegance, something recognized all over the world. The true collar, the new blue, the addition of the red really enhance the new kit. It goes well with the philosophy I want to create: creativity, humbleness and ambition."

The innovative, lightweight, technical design and features Nike Dri-FIT technology and engineered ventilation systems to help keep players cool, coupled with ergonomic fit and soft cotton feel for player comfort.

The kit embraces Nike's considered design approach and is Nike's most environmentally sustainable kit to date, with shirt and shorts made from a microfibre polyester that is derived entirely from recycled plastic bottles. For the shirt, this material is combined with organic cotton (96% recycled polyester, 4% organic cotton)

In addition to the on-pitch kit, Nike also unveiled a broader range of FFF-branded Nike Sportswear products designed for fans off the field of play.

One detail of the new France kit is the message 'Nos Differences Nous Unissent' (our differences unite us) printed behind the FFF badge over the players' hearts. Nike has a history of using sport to play a positive role in breaking down prejudice and helping people reach their full potential. Nike and the FFF are jointly committed to supporting the work of the Fondation du Football in using football as a vehicle to promote the positive aspects of diversity in society.

The new France kit will be worn for the first time in the game against Brasil at Stade de France on 9th February. The new kit and the Nike Sportswear FFF product will be available at retail from 5th February.

Prior to that, Nike will reveal a new campaign around the kit and the partnership with the FFF, entitled 'Vive Le Football Libre', capturing the spirit of the new era of French Football. This will include a digital and print advertising campaign, as well as a dramatic TV spot.

The dramatic voiceover to the TV spot is the poem from the famous 'Duel' scene in the play Cyrano de Bergerac, narrated by French hip-hop artist Oxmo Puccino. The spot draws a parallel between the duel scene, in which Cyrano confronts a prince who dared threaten him, and French footballers at different levels competing against their opponents.

Through the verse, the audacity, creativity and freedom of French football is expressed. Those talents are expressing themselves in various places, Clairefontaine for the French team, but also the playgrounds of Belleville, Marseille and La Courneuve for the amateur players.

About Nike Considered Design

The goal of Considered Design is to create performance innovation products that minimize environmental impact by reducing waste throughout the design and development process, use environmentally preferred materials, and eliminate toxics. For more information visit www.nikebiz.com/crreport/content/environment/4-1-0-overview.php?cat=overview.

About NIKE, Inc.

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand. For more information, visit www.nikebiz.com.

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SOURCE: NIKE, Inc.

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