ŠKODA Design creates trophy for ‘Most Valuable Player’ of IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship 2019

› Trophy draws on ŠKODA’s characteristic crystalline elements and symbolises an ice crystal

› ŠKODA CEO Bernhard Maier presents the trophy to most valuable player of tournament

following World Championship final in Bratislava

› ŠKODA official main sponsor of IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship for 27th time

› Car manufacturer continues to be world record holder for longest world championship main sponsorship

in sports history

Mladá Boleslav, 23 May 2019 – ŠKODA Design has once again created the crystal trophy for the

tournament’s ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship 2019. The

shape of the cup made of Czech crystal is reminiscent of an ice crystal, and the trophy also

draws on the crystalline elements that characterise the Czech carmaker’s vehicles. Following

the World Championship finals in the Slovak capital of Bratislava, ŠKODA AUTO CEO Bernhard

Maier will present the trophy to the best player in the tournament.

One of the most significant hockey highlights of the year will be taking place in Slovakia from 10 to 26

May. At the 83rd IIHF Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships in Bratislava and Košice, the 16 best

national teams in the world will be competing for the title. ŠKODA is supporting this event as the

official main sponsor for the 27th time in a row. ŠKODA thus holds onto its world record for the longest

world championship main sponsorship in sports history.

The final of the tournament will take place on 26 May in the Slovak capital, Bratislava. Following the

game, the world champions will be honoured and the best player of the tournament chosen. As in the

previous year, ŠKODA AUTO CEO Bernhard Maier will present a spectacular trophy created by

ŠKODA Design to the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the tournament.

ŠKODA’s design department is responsible for creating the spectacular trophy for the second time in a

row. The dynamically shaped sculpture draws inspiration from Czech crystal art and is reminiscent of

an ice crystal. It combines a clear reference to ice hockey with the crystalline shapes and structures

that characterise the dynamic and emotive design of ŠKODA’s current models, such as headlights and

taillights. Using traditional methods, the 35-centimetre-tall and 22-centimeter-wide, 5-kilogram winner’s

trophy is first blown into a mould and then receives its artistic, multifaceted cut.

ŠKODA first sponsored the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in 1992, initially as a mobility

partner. Since 1993, the car manufacturer has been the official main sponsor of the sporting event.

This commitment is the longest main sponsorship in the history of World Sports Championships and is

officially recognised as a Guinness World Record.