Cardiff, WALES (August 12, 2014) - Nissan's innovative partnership with the UEFA Champions League kicks off today at the 2014 UEFA Super Cup with the launch of its Engineers of Excitement program. The UEFA Super Cup - which sees Spanish teams Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC going head to head at the Cardiff City Stadium - promises to be an exciting starting point for Nissan's innovative partnership.

Innovation and excitement lie at the heart of the Nissan's UEFA Champions League program, which will harness excitement both on and off the field to enhance the football fans' experience of Europe's premier club football competition.

In conjunction with the launch, Nissan is delighted to announce that it has partnered with three-time UEFA Champions League winner, Andrés Iniesta and Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil captain, Thiago Silva. The football stars will become ambassadors for Nissan's UEFA Champions League activity and will play a key role in the company's new global advertising campaign, with the first television commercials premiering in August.

"The UEFA Super Cup represents Nissan's first official UEFA partnership experience, and we're very excited to be involved with this prestigious match," said Bastien Schupp, Vice President, Marketing, Nissan Europe. "Innovation that Excites is what Nissan stands for, and our partnership with UEFA will see a collaborative effort which will push the boundaries to create real innovation and continued excitement for fans across the globe."

Nissan's and UEFA's on-going commitment to football fans around the world has resulted in the company providing 600 free tickets for local youth sports groups, allowing children from around South Wales to experience the UEFA Super Cup with their parents at no cost. Additionally, Nissan has given one family the exclusive opportunity to watch Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC take part in their on-pitch training sessions in Cardiff City Stadium ahead of the match.

As the official global automotive supplier of the UEFA Champions League, three Nissan Qashqai crossovers have been in convoy since August 1 on a 12-day tour of Welsh towns and cities, as Nissan has helped transport the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup trophies around Wales. Including stops in Newport, Wrexham, Bangor City, Aberystwyth, Llanelli and Cardiff, Nissan has brought three of football's most famous trophies to fans and a Nissan dealership in Wales in the buildup to the UEFA Super Cup as the country prepares for one of the most prestigious nights in the European football calendar.

To help celebrate the UEFA Super Cup, Nissan has a strong presence at the official Fan Zone in The Hayes which is open from August 9-12. The site features two of Nissan's most innovative vehicles, The Nissan LEAF and the NISMO LEAF RC, alongside two GT Academy simulators for the general public to test their driving skills. Throughout the four days, Nissan will also offer numerous augmented reality photo opportunities and competitions to win a range of UEFA Champions League prizes.

Nissan is the official global automotive sponsor of the UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Champions League, with a deal that will cover the period 2014/2015 to 2017/2018. As an official partner Nissan will be involved with Europe's most prestigious club football competition through a number of its exclusive products and services.

The UEFA Champions League partnership is another example of Nissan's dedication and growth in global sports which already includes the brand's proud sponsorship of the Rio 2016 Olympic & Paralympic Games, Olympic Team Brazil, official sponsor of the Columbia and Mexico Olympic Teams, Team GB and ParalympicsGB, Africa Cup of Nations, NCAA Football, Canadian Football League, sporting ambassadors including Olympics Gold Medallists Usain Bolt and Sir Chris Hoy, corporate partner for Heisman Trust/Heisman Trophy and the official global automotive partner of City Football Group.