BUTTERFLY SELECTED AS NEW OFFICIAL APPAREL PARTNER OF USATT
Comprehensive Partnership Includes US National Teams and USATT Events Through 2017
January 19, 2016 (Colorado Springs, CO) – USA Table Tennis (USATT) announced today that BUTTERFLY has been selected as its new Official Apparel Sponsor through 2017. The comprehensive partnership includes outfitting US National Team members in customized uniforms and track suits, as well as sponsorship of USATT’s two major annual events, the US Open and US National Championships. USATT National Teams will debut the new uniforms at the ITTF 2016 Perfect World Team Table Tennis Championships in Kuala Lumpur at the end of February.
“BUTTERFLY, and in particular BUTTERFLY North America, have long been committed to USA Table Tennis, and we are excited to bring them back as a major partner in 2016,” commented Gordon Kaye, CEO of USATT. “BUTTERFLY is known throughout the world as a leader in forward-thinking innovation, and we eagerly look forward to working closely through this partnership to grow our brand and our great sport in the United States.”
The new custom USA National Team uniforms and track suits, which will also be worn by USATT athletes in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, will also be available for purchase, beginning March 1, 2016, at www.butterflyonline.com.
“Butterfly is thrilled to be growing our support of USA Table Tennis, its athletes, and coaches,” added Bowie Martin, owner and President of Butterfly North America. “As a long-time supporter of table tennis in the United States, we feel strongly that this is the right time for Butterfly to aggressively expand our brand with the US National Teams and at USATT events. We are particularly excited to see BUTTERFLY apparel at 2016 World Championships and Olympic Games, and to offer fans around the world the chance to support the red, white and blue!”
2016 NATIONAL TEAM UNIFORMS
About USA TABLE TENNIS
USA Table Tennis is organized under the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of table tennis in the United States. As a member service organization it promotes table tennis by creating opportunities for athletes and coaches of all backgrounds to participate in the sport through more than 250 clubs and over 350 tournaments across the nation annually. USA Table Tennis is a member of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), and is responsible for selecting and training teams for international competition including the Pan American and Olympic Games. For more information on USA Table Tennis visit www.usatt.org.
About BUTTERFLY
Butterfly produces high performance table tennis equipment of high quality in order to satisfy the requirements of all players; it is the basic concept introduced by the late Hikosuke Tamasu, the founder of Butterfly. “Players are flowers in table tennis world and they are the very enchantment of table tennis; we would like to be butterflies flying around the flowers providing them the essential needs in the table tennis world.” It is the origin of the brand name ‘Butterfly’ and the very heart of Butterfly that has never changed even though it is over 60 years since its foundation. When table tennis equipment from Butterfly is used and it resonates with the player’s spirit, technique, physical condition and wisdom, impressive and dynamic rallies follow. Every player is different and blossoms with his/her own flower. Butterfly keeps moving forward developing and progressing all the time.
About BUTTERFLY NORTH AMERICA
Butterfly North America was established in 1960 as Martin Kilpatrick Company by Bowie Martin and Norman Kilpatrick. Bowie and Norman were avid table tennis players at the East Carolina University table tennis club. The company carried the leading table tennis brands and sold to table tennis clubs and sporting goods stores throughout the USA. In 1962, Norman sold his half of the company to Bowie’s wife, Melba, also an avid table tennis player. The business grew steadily and eventually Martin Kilpatrick narrowed its product lines to the Butterfly professional line and the Martin Kilpatrick recreational line. In 1995, Martin Kilpatrick acquired the Butterfly distributorship of Canada. In 2005, Martin Kilpatrick began doing business as Butterfly North America. Butterfly North America’s two primary websites are ButterflyOnline.com, which focuses on professional equipment, and ButterflyNA.com, which emphasizes recreational equipment. In 2013, Butterfly North America started the WAB “We Are Butterfly” program to connect and promote the Butterfly community of clubs, pro shops, coaches, players, tournaments and fans.
