May 9, 2003

Garmin and Pepsi help fund NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships and Olathe Marathon & 15k

OLATHE, KANSAS—When 1,600 student-athletes and coaches from across the country come to Olathe May 22-24 for the NAIA Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field National Championships and hundreds of others come for the public Olathe Marathon and 15k, they will be competing in events funded in large part by the generosity of two Olathe businesses: Garmin International and PepsiAmericas.

Garmin title sponsor of NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships

Garmin International has made a significant monetary donation to the NAIA championships and will also provide creative assistance and participate in other ways. The Garmin donation will help pay for an event that last year attracted thousands of out-of-towners, who spent $2.8 million in Olathe hotels, restaurants, and businesses.

"Garmin is one of our community’s great corporate citizens," said L. Franklin Taylor, president of the Olathe Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the championships. "The company recognizes the value of this type of event to the community and the benefits of being associated with it."

The Garmin-NAIA Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, as the competition will be called, will be at the Olathe District Activities Center. The event will feature the 52nd annual men’s outdoor championships and the 23rd annual women’s.

"Garmin designs products for an active world, so it’s fitting that we support the accomplishments of the NAIA’s finest student-athletes," said Jon Cassat, director of marketing communications. "What’s more, our company has thrived in Olathe, so we’re delighted to be in a position to help with an event with such positive economic implications for our community."

Pepsi title sponsor of Inaugural Olathe Public Marathon & 15k

PepsiAmericas is the presenting sponsor for a new event that is being held in connection with the track and field national championships: the Olathe Inaugural Marathon and 15k. Pepsi has provided significant funding for the marathon, which is hosted by the Chamber and open to the public, and will also donate some of its products, including its bottled water Aquafina.

The Olathe Inaugural Marathon & 15k will begin at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, at the Olathe District Activities Center. Participants will follow the same route as the NAIA runners—on a course certified by U.S.A. Track and Field.

Early registrations indicate that as many as two-thirds of the public marathon participants will come from out of town, fulfilling the Chamber’s goal to bring visitors and outside dollars to Olathe, Taylor said. To date runners from 16 states have already signed up for the event.

" Once again Pepsi is investing in its community," he said. "Last year the company was the title sponsor for the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships its first year in Olathe. This year the company has stepped up as the major supporter of yet another important new event, the marathon & 15k."

" Marathon runners are a great example of a healthy, active lifestyle at the highest level," said John Barnes, vice-president/general manager, Kansas City Division of PepsiAmericas. "We hope everyone comes out to support this great event."

Olathe sponsorship opportunities

Additional sponsorships are available for businesses that would like to support this collegiate activity and gain visibility through a national event. The chamber is still seeking individual event sponsors (hurdles, shot put, dashes, etc.) for $500. Depending on the level of sponsorship, sponsors will enjoy visibility in the form of banners, recognition in publications, and passes to the competition.

Other track & field sponsors already signed up, in addition to GARMIN and Pepsi, include Gold Bank and Kansas Speedway.

Single-day tickets ($5 adults, $3 students) and three-day all-event passes ($12) can be purchased at the event. Volunteers are also being sought to help with the championships.

For additional information, contact Catharine Sales, assistant director of sports marketing for the Olathe Chamber of Commerce, or Beth Felski, CVB sports marketing, (913) 764-1050, or visit the chamber’s Web site, www.olathe.org.

Through its operating subsidiaries, Garmin Ltd. designs, manufactures, and markets navigation, communications and information devices, most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin is a leader in the general aviation and consumer markets and its products serve aviation, marine, general recreation, automotive, wireless and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit Garmin’s Investor Relations site at www.garmin.com or contact the Investor Relations department at 913-397-8200.