Ahead of Japan becoming the epicentre of world sport with the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, MUFG is proud to announce that it is joining Laureus as its newest Global Partner.

MUFG has committed to support Laureus globally. With the backing of MUFG, Laureus Sport for Good will further develop its existing roster of programmes, while using the organisation's global presence to expand into even more countries around the world. MUFG will also benefit from the global exposure delivered by the iconic Laureus World Sports Awards, recently held in Monaco and featuring Roger Federer as the 2017 Global Sportsman of the Year.

Nobuyuki Hirano, President and Group CEO of MUFG, said:

"The core values of MUFG sit perfectly alongside Laureus' belief in the power of sport. One of our organisation's goals is to contribute towards solving social issues in communities around the world and, in alignment with both Laureus' goals and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, we hope to contribute to education and employability efforts by leveraging 'Sport for Good'. We are looking forward to joining Laureus in their mission to use sport to make a positive impact around the world."

The partnership between sport and business is the perfect collaboration. At the heart of both Laureus and MUFG lie core values of respect, sportsmanship and excellence. MUFG has a long-standing history of using sport to make positive difference in society. MUFG currently supports the Special Olympics Nippon Foundation, an international organisation that engages people with mental disabilities in sporting activity. Special Olympics is also a long-standing grantee of Laureus Sport for Good.

Jonathan Hill, Laureus World Sports Awards CEO, said:

"MUFG is a global player in the financial stage and a significant force in Japan and beyond and I am delighted to welcome them into the Laureus Family as our third Global Partner. The fact that MUFG chose Laureus over a number of other sports-focused sponsorships is testimony to the uniqueness of the Laureus platform which cuts across all sports and regions and which is underpinned by our globally-recognised, purpose-led Sport for Good charitable projects and the world-renowned Laureus World Sports Awards. We very much welcome them and their enthusiasm to the Laureus family."

Laureus combines the Laureus World Sports Awards, Laureus Sport for Good and the Laureus World Sports Academy and Ambassadors Programme to form a unique organisation that uses the inspirational power of sport as a force for good. Laureus Sport for Good is the Laureus charity that uses sport to help young people around the world overcome violence, discrimination and disadvantage. Working with more than 100 programmes in 35 countries, Laureus Sport for Good believes that sport can change the world.

MUFG join Laureus' eminent group of current Global Partners Mercedes-Benz and IWC Schaffhausen, and Official Partners Allianz and Mont Blanc.

Headquartered in Tokyo, MUFG has a rich history in banking dating back nearly 350 years. With more than 150,000 employees working in 1,800 offices in more than 50 countries, the Group is widely recognised for their commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, acting in the best interests of society and giving back to communities around the world.