Published December 6, 2006

Petrom and Fundatia Casa Campionilor promotes sports with disadvantaged children

48 children with the “Pinocchio” Orphenage Center in Bucharest trained together with great Romanian sports champions Ilie Nastase, Gabi Szabo, Andreea Raducanu, Elisabeta Lipa, Cristian Gatu, Laura Badea, Monica Iagar and together with Octavian Belu and Mariana Bitang, the greatest gym trainers in Romania
On Saint-Nicholas day, the children with “ Pinocchio” received from Petrom’s representatives sports equipments, games and sweets
Petrom and Fundatia Casa Campionilor will continue to collaborate in order to bring again the joy of sports to children

Petrom, the largest oil and gas company in the South-Eastern Europe together with Fundatia Casa Campionilor, organized an hour of sports activities at the “Pinocchio” Orphanage Home on December 6th. The action took place under the slogan: “If you want impress Santa, place the ball in the hole”, in the company of great Romanian sports champions Ilie Nastase, Gabi Szabo, Andreea Raducanu, Elisabeta Lipa, Cristian Gatu, Laura Badea, Monica Iagar as well as of the greatest gym trainers, Octavian Belu and Mariana Bitang. The children were rewarded for their efforts with sweet, games and sports equipments.

The 48 children with “Pinocchio” Orphanage Center learned from the greatest Romanian athletes that sports activities have positive effect on the harmonious physical and intellectual development. The representatives of Fundatia Casa Campionilor encouraged the little enthusiasts to include sports in their daily activities in order to obtain better performance on all plans. Children were introduced to the secrets of sports by the great sports champions who participated in this event. The legends of the Romanian sports taught the children to roll on skates and to play football.

Representatives from Petrom and Fundatia Casa Campionilor offered the children gifts on the occasion Saint- Nicholas day, consisting in sports equipments, educational games and sweets.

“The purpose of this event is to attract children into doing sports, so that it would become a habitual activity for them. Petrom wants to support these children by offering them new specific equipments so that sports would become a pleasure and a relaxaing activity for them. Our company will always support performance on all levels and we are happy to see how perceptive the children were today”, stated Mrs. Mariana Gheorghe, CEO Petrom.

The joint initiative of Petrom and Fundatia Casa Campionilor proved their involvement in the development and helping of disadvantaged children.

“We have come here today both as sports champions and representatives from Fundatia Casa Campionilor. Our aim was to make these children aware of how good, healthy and fun sports can be. By presenting them live role models, we have tried to set examples in order to stimulate them into continuing doing sports, now that they have been also offered specific equipments in this respect”, stated Mariana Bitang, President of Fundatia Casa Campionilor.

The event organized with the orphanage center is part of a more comprehensive sponsoring program, initiated by Petrom and Fundatia Casa Campionilor. These activities will continue in December, in several institutions, bringing important personalities of the sports life in Romania together with children and young people. The partnership between Petrom and Fundatia Casa Campionilor aims to relaunch sports in schools as a selection criterion of professional sports and as a way to help to the harmonious and healthy development of the young generation. The funds offered by Petrom for this sponsoring program amounts to 150,000 euros.

Background information

Petrom SA
Petrom is the largest Romanian oil and gas group, with activities in the business segments of Exploration and Production, Refining and Petrochemicals, as well as Sales and Marketing. Petrom has estimated oil and gas reserves of 1 billion boe, an annual refining capacity of 8 million metric tons and around 550 filling stations in Romania. The company also has an international network with 82 filling stations located in Moldova and Hungary. This network was increased by 178 OMV premium stations in Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia-Montenegro, acquired in January 2006. In 2005 the turnover of Petrom was EUR 2,970 million, EBITDA was EUR 766 million. Following the share capital increase OMV, the leading oil and gas group in Central Europe holds a 51,011% share in Petrom. OMV is active in Refining and Marketing, Exploration and Production, Gas as well as Chemicals in 28 countries on five continents. The Romanian state holds 30.862% of Petrom shares, Property Fund SA holds 9,887%, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2.026% and 6.214% are owned by minority shareholders.

Fundatia Casa Campionilor
Fundatia Casa Campionilor was established in July 2006. The founding members are landmarks of the Romanian sport life counting Nadia Comaneci, Ilie Nastase, Iolanda Balas, Elisabeta Lipa, Ivan Pataichin. The purpose of the Fundatia Casa Campionilor is to get actively involved in supporting and relaunching the Romanian sports.