PepsiCo-Jordan – the winner of the King Abdullah II Award for Excellence/Private Sector – announced its sponsorship of the Jordan International Rally’s 6th and pre-final round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC), which was held from the 29th to the 31st of October 2009, and was attended by His Royal Highness Prince Feisal Al Hussein, President of the Jordan Olympic Committee and Chairman of Jordan Motorsport. The opening ceremony was held at the Abdoun Circle drawing an exceptionally large public attendance and involved a performance by the Jordanian star Omar Abdullat.
PepsiCo-Jordan’s sponsorship of the 3-day championship involved the distribution of the company's products for free as well as the placement of coolers in the Rally's headquarters at the Marriott Dead Sea; the provision of samplers during the technical test station at the Wadi Resort in the Dead Sea on Thursday, 29th October, from 7:30am till 12:30pm; and the distribution of its products for free during the opening ceremony that was held on the same day from 3:00pm to 6:30pm. In addition, PepsiCo-Jordan set up water stations along the rally route within the spectators' areas, and constructed VIP and media tents during the opening ceremony and at service park stations.
Commenting on PepsiCo-Jordan’s sponsorship, Mr. Sufian Salman, the company’s General Manager of HR and Corporate Affairs, said: “Our sponsorship of the Jordan International Rally is in accordance with PepsiCo-Jordan’s interest in supporting and encouraging important sporting events that draw regional and international attention and participation and that elevate the level of sportsmanship in Jordan. We consider this championship one of the most exciting and important championships in the history of motor sports in Jordan, and it is an ideal opportunity for PepsiCo-Jordan to show our true support for this sport by helping make this event a success, and participating in positioning Jordan as the Arab world's center for rallying.”