Falcons will be wearing three stripes for three years

Adidas is forever sport, and also the face of Fanshawe athletics for the next three years.

Fanshawe athletics has established a sponsorship agreement with global athletic power Adidas and Canadian distributor Big Kahuna. The deal results in varsity teams at Fanshawe donned in exclusive Adidas team apparel for the next three years.

The athletic department said the association with Adidas is a natural fit. It will help to recruit the best athletes, establish a scholarship fund, promote the Fanshawe Falcon name, and create unity among the intercollegiate athletes.

“If student athletes look good, then they play good,” said Mike Lindsay, Manager of Athletics.

The program includes the replacement of all varsity uniforms with Adidas uniforms, Big Kahuna and Adidas logos appearing on all athletic literature, all practise and game balls being purchased from B.C.-based Big Kahuna, and Adidas apparel being available to all Fanshawe students at the Bookstore.

Big Kahuna and Adidas have full sponsorship deals with all 12 British Columbia Colleges Athletic Association schools, but the venture with Fanshawe will be the first with an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association school.

Having the “team-wear” program in place for each varsity team, Fanshawe athletics says it will create a great environment for the athletes and help push Fanshawe into the elite level of college athletics.

Lindsay said this deal coincides with Fanshawe's objectives as an institution.

“One of Fanshawe strategic directions is quality,” said Lindsay. “It is evident by wearing Adidas, some of the finest in team wear, that it really supports this initiative in quality.”

Adidas faced some competition for the rights to represent Fanshawe athletic fashion from fellow athletic dynasty Nike. However, as Fanshawe Athletic Technician Rob Hannivan said, Nike was not the right fit.

“Both deals we're very similar, but it came down to comfort and customer service in the end,” Hannivan said. “[Adidas] really wanted us, and recruited us just like we would with an athlete, whereas Nike just tried to rely on their reputation.”

According to their website, Adidas' philosophy expresses their passion for sport, and provides a unique blend of performance, style, and comfort for athletes. Adidas also claims to outfit the top athletes and teams in the entire world.