MUMBAI: Marketing agency Infront Sports & Media’s wholly owned subsidiary, Infront Asia, has been appointed by the China Basketball Association (CBA) as the exclusive global marketing partner for the country's national basketball teams until the end of 2008.

Infront will market all commercial opportunities, including sponsoring, television, new media and image rights. Furthermore, the agreement includes the implementation of a comprehensive technical development plan for the teams.

CBA executive VP Li Yuanwei says, "We are excited with the Infront partnership for Team China. Infront has a highly experienced team in China that we have worked closely with on the marketing of the Chinese Basketball League. The extension of this partnership to now cover the national teams is an ideal solution for the sport's development.

"That being said, Infront had to prove itself amongst a highly competitive tender process to represent the national team. Their success has proven that they are an extremely committed organisation that knows how to win, the same attitude we want for Team China".

Infront CEO Oscar Frei says, "Infront is very much looking forward to its second exciting cooperation with the CBA and the unique opportunity to market and develop the Chinese National basketball teams. We are confident that our long-term concept will take Chinese basketball to the next level of professionalism and performance".