TOKYO, November 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Canon announced today that the company will be an Official Partner of the IAAF World Athletics Series from 2013 to 2016, including two editions of the IAAF World Championships.

Canon will sponsor a total of 15 IAAF World Athletics Series events, including the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia, which will take place in August 2013, and the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, scheduled for August 2015.

Boasting a rich history, the IAAF held its inaugural World Championships in 1983 in Helsinki, Finland, making next year's event in Moscow the 14th to date. The Canon Group, which has long focused on promoting sports, decided to sponsor the championships based on shared goals with the IAAF, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, of "contributing to the promotion and development of athletics worldwide and its values of universality and excellence."

At numerous sporting competitions both in Japan and overseas, Canon has provided behind-the-scenes support to members of the press covering these events, including camera and lens maintenance services and product loans. To further improve on-site media support at each Canon-sponsored IAAF competition, the company will establish a camera service center at each event to assist the numerous journalists and sports photographers from various countries and regions across the world.

As an Official IAAF Partner, various Canon input and output products will be designated as official products of the IAAF World Championships, including cameras, lenses, video cameras, copiers, multifunction devices, printers, scanners, facsimile machines and projectors.

Through the use of Canon products and technologies, the Canon Group will continue contributing to the advancement of sports.

IAAF World Athletics Series: Canon Sponsorship Overview

World governing body: International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)

Homepage: iaaf.org

Event Schedule:

2013-2016

    Event                                                Dates                  Location

    IAAF World Cross Country Championships       Mar. 24, 2013         Bydgoszcz, Poland
    IAAF World Youth Championships            Jul. 10-14, 2013          Donetsk, Ukraine
    IAAF World Championships                  Aug. 10-18, 2013            Moscow, Russia
    IAAF World Indoor Championships             Mar. 7-9, 2014             Sopot, Poland
    IAAF World Half Marathon Championships       Mar. 29, 2014       Copenhagen, Denmark
    IAAF World Race Walking Cup                  May 3-4, 2014    Taicang, P.R. of China
    IAAF World Junior Championships           Jul. 22-27, 2014        Eugene, OR, U.S.A.
    IAAF Continental Cup                      Sep. 13-14, 2014        Marrakech, Morocco
    IAAF World Cross Country Championships          Mar. 2015*                       TBD
    IAAF World Youth Championships                  Jul. 2015*                       TBD                                                      
    IAAF World Championships                  Aug. 22-30, 2015    Beijing, P.R. of China
    IAAF World Indoor Championships                 Mar. 2016*                       TBD
    IAAF World Half Marathon Championships           Mar 2016*                       TBD
    IAAF World Race Walking Cup                      May 2016*                       TBD
    IAAF World Junior Championships                 Jul. 2016*                       TBD

* Anticipated month the event will take place; specific date(s) yet to be determined.