56 medals won with Exel poles in Torino Olympics

56 MEDALS WON WITH EXEL POLES IN TORINO OLYMPICS 56 medals were won with Exel poles in Torino Olympics. Exel is the world’s leading pultrusion manufacturer and known for its sports equipment and industrial profiles. The amount of medals exceeds the number of medals won with Exel poles in Salt Lake City by two. Exel’s medals went to 40 athletes from 10 different countries. The most successful Exel athletes came from Germany (18 medals), Russia (9), France (7) and Finland (6). The majority of medals were won in biathlon, altogether 29. 17 medals were won in cross-country skiing, 8 in Nordic combined and one both in Alpine skiing and freestyle. Finnish medalists include Tanja Poutiainen (silver in giant slalom), Mikko Ronkainen (silver in moguls) and Finland’s team in Nordic combined (bronze: Antti Kuisma, Anssi Koivuranta, Hannu Manninen and Jaakko Tallus). - Exel athletes’ success in every discipline was spectacular and media coverage unparalleled. Our most successful athletes come from densely populated market areas from where we are looking for growth in market shares. These include Germany, Russia, France and Norway, Mr. Aki Karihtala, Senior Vice President of Exel Sport Division, says. The greatest stars of the Olympics in Exel’s racing team were Michael Greis from Germany (three gold medals in biathlon), Felix Gottwald from Austria (two gold and one silver medal in Nordic combined) and Giorgio di Centa from Italy (two gold medals in cross-country skiing). - Cross-country skiing is rapidly becoming more and more popular in many countries. With the right marketing measures our success in Torino helps us in pole sales, Karihtala says. - We are also gaining ground in alpine skiing. In this respect Tanja Poutiainen’s and Mikko Ronkainen’s medals came at the right time. Further information: Mr. Aki Karihtala, Senior Vice President of Exel Plc’s Sport Division +358 50 590 6752 or aki.karihtala@exel.fi. Photos regarding medalists can be found at www.exel.net/imagebank. User ID: images, password: images. Pls mention Photo: Agence Zoom. Exel Sports Oy handles Exel Oyj’s consumer products’ (poles and floorball products) marketing, sales, logistics and product development globally. The company employs some 40 persons. Exel Sports is a fully owned subsidiary of the parent company Exel Oyj. The Group’s six factories are located in Finland, Germany, Belgium and Austria. International operations account for some 80% of the Group’s net sales which were EUR 91 million in 2005. The Group employs 450 persons and its share is quoted on Helsinki Stock Exchange Main list. Further information: www.exelsports.net.