FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PUMA®KICKS OFF 12TH IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ATHLETICS

--PUMA Unveils Bolt’s Track Spike and Announces Berlin Events--

Berlin, Germany (13 August, 2009) –Jochen Zeitz, CEO and Chairman of PUMA AG, together with three-time Olympic gold medalist and PUMA athlete Usain Bolt, joined today at the Yaam Club in Berlin to celebrate the long-standing partnership the sportlifestyle brand has forged with the Caribbean Nation.

“PUMA has long been a supporter of Jamaican Track & Field and the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA). The country, its culture and its athletes bring to bear a vibrancy and energy that echoes the PUMA brand,” said CEO and Chairman of PUMA AG, Jochen Zeitz. “Through the years, PUMA has featured lines of Jamaican-themed shoes and apparel; what we are most proud of, however, is our relationship with Jamaica’s Track and Field stars. The country has a phenomenal record of producing the world’s best sprinters. We are thrilled for the opportunity to contribute to their training and development. We look forward to cheering on the entire team here at the World Champs in Berlin.”

PUMA is the proud sponsor of the most celebrated star to emerge from the JAAA in the past few years,the three-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder, Usain Bolt. PUMA first encountered Bolt when he was 14 years old and immediately recognized him as a talent to watch. And not just on the track as he showed signs of super human speed, but off the track as he moved through life with a great sense of humor and sense of play. His unique blend of athleticism and fun was an ideal fit for the sportlifestyle company, which signed Bolt at age 16. PUMA continues to foster young talent through their sponsorship of many high schools track and field programs and events notably the Jamaican Boys & Girls Champs the most popular sport event in Jamaica. In Berlin, Bolt will be joined on the track by fellow teammates and PUMA-sponsored athletes Lacena Golding-Clarke, Trecia-Kaye Smith, Jovanee Jarrett, Maurice Smith and Jermaine Gonzalez.

“Track and Field is the heart, the pride of Jamaica,” said Howard Aris, President of the Jamaican Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA). “As our national sport, we put a high level of support behind our young athletes. We’ve seen greatness prevail and Jamaica, a tiny island with only 2.8 million people, is now a leading contender for gold medals in Track & Field. PUMA, a partner of the JAAA since 2002, is one of our biggest advocates.”

During the Championships in Berlin, Usain Bolt will compete in a custom Theseus Pro sprint spike, dubbed the PUMA YAAM. A team of PUMA designers and technicians studied and measured Bolt’s stride and foot form to create a shoe to provide power, speed and stability. The “engine” of the show is a carbon plate, which adds speed and power but no weight. The unique orange chromo color was created specifically to contrast with Berlin’s Olympic Stadium signature blue track. PUMA has also designed an athletic, low-profile version of Usain’s signature track spike, called the PUMA STREET YAAM, which will be available at select retail locations.

Also making its debut at the press conference are the ”Bolt Arms,” PUMA’s custom-designed fan accessory that mimics the athlete’s famous “Lightning Bolt” victory pose from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Viral videos of the Foam Arms in action can be viewed at

Turning up the volume on fun, PUMA will host several Jamaican-themed activities in Berlin during the World Champs weeks. The PUMA Street Meet mixes the atmosphere of a Jamaican street carnival with the excitement and spontaneity of street racing. Striping running to its core, it challenges participants to show their raw talent and to go as fast as they can. Consumers can see how fleet of foot they are at the Street Meet, located outside Kaufhof on Alexanderplatz, August 15-22 daily, 10:00 to 20:00.

On August 23rd, at the conclusion of the World Champs, PUMA will take over the YAAM, a popular Caribbean lounge on the banks of the SpreeRiver for a vibrant Jamaican-themed party that’s open to the public, via ticket sales. Live music, dancing, food and special athlete appearances will make it an occasion to remember. On the heels of the YAAM party, Usain Bolt is scheduled to make a brief appearance to sign autographs at the PUMA Flagship Store, located at Rosenthaler Strasse 40 in Berlin on Monday, August 24 at 14:00. For more information, visit

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Media Contact:

Sara Gottman, PUMA

Mobile:+01 978 996 4441,

Clara Mattioli, PUMA

Mobile: +49 151 551 15335,

Vivienne Raesserts, PUMA

Mobile: +49 170 5658 186,

PUMA

PUMA is one of the world’s leading sportlifestyle companies that designs and develops footwear, apparel and accessories. It is committed to working in ways that contribute to the world by supporting Creativity, SAFE Sustainability and Peace, and by staying true to the values of being Fair, Honest, Positive and Creative in decisions made and actions taken. PUMA starts in Sport and ends in Fashion. Its Sport Performance and Lifestyle labels include categories such as Football, Running, Motorsports, Golf and Sailing. The Black label features collaborations with renowned designers such as Alexander McQueen, Yasuhiro Mihara and Sergio Rossi. The PUMA Group owns the brands PUMA, Tretorn and Hussein Chalayan. The company, which was founded in 1948, distributes its products in more than 120 countries, employs more than 9,000 people worldwide and has headquarters in Herzogenaurach/Germany, Boston, London and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit

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