Qatar Airways announces first AFL sponsorship deal

[DOHA] Qatar Airways, sponsors of FC Barcelona, have branched into a new sport signing a deal with Australian Football League team Sydney Swans, the airline announced on Tuesday.

The three-year deal will allow Qatar Airways to receive "prominent branding" at Sydney's home games and at the club's training grounds, the airline said in a statement.

"We strongly believe in connecting with our global travellers through their passion for sport, and have been looking for the right partner for Qatar Airways in Australia's sports arena," said the carrier's CEO, Akbar Al Baker.

The deal runs until the end of the 2019 season.

It is the latest foray into sports sponsorship for the Gulf airline.

Earlier this summer, it announced a one-year extension to its shirt deal with La Liga giant Barcelona, despite some reports that the relationship between the airline and the football club was broken beyond repair.

Qatar Airways also said earlier this week it would be the official airline for the International Cycling Union Road World Championships hosted by the Gulf emirate in October.

And in January, German football side Bayern Munich announced a sponsorship deal with Doha's Hamad International Airport, which is operated by the airline.

The Swans play their home games at the Sydney Cricket Ground and last won the AFL Grand Final in 2012.

AFP