In a joint statement and public contract signing, ASICS Corporation and FILA, the international wrestling federation, announced an agreement naming ASICS as the Official Footwear Sponsor of FILA.    The announcement was made in Athens, Greece between sessions of the Olympic Games wrestling competition on Tuesday, August 24. Leading executives from both organizations were on hand along with members of the international press at the ASICS House in the O.A.K.A. section of the city.    The sponsorship covers five years from July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2009. The sponsorship allows ASICS to use the title of "The Official Footwear Sponsor of FILA" and the FILA logo for their marketing activities of wrestling shoes. Also, ASICS can put banners at all the competitions organized by FILA.    Participating in the public signing were FILA President Raphael Martinetti and ASICS Corporation President Kiyomi Wada. Also appearing in the formal presentation were FILA Vice President Tomiaki Fukuda of Japan, and ASICS Europe President Motoi Oyama.    "We are very pleased for the first time to be associated with ASICS," said Martinetti. "They are one of the great sports companies."    Martinetti said that he wore ASICS shoes when he was a wrestling competitor. He also noted that FILA was looking forward to the time after the next Olympic cycle that they can renew this relationship.    "The sponsorship contact which we have signed today means ASICS wrestling shoes are the official footwear of FILA," said Wada. "We have been marketing wrestling shoes since 1955."    Wada explained the history of ASICS wrestling shoes, and showed a number of examples of the ASICS shoes from past years.     "During the Olympic Games going on now, a number of international wrestlers are wearing our latest shoes," said Wada. "We are also starting to market women's wrestling shoes for the first time."    Wada also explained its strong influence on the U.S. wrestling community.    "We are very successful in the United States, where wrestling is a popular sport," he said. "We have the largest market share at 70% and sold 300,000 pairs of wrestling shoes in 2003."    There were many dignitaries in attendance, including the four members of the Japanese women's Olympic wrestling team. The athletes won four medals at the Olympics the night before, including two gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze medal. Martinetti greeting all of the Japanese women athletes personally and congratulated them on their success.    Among the U.S. wrestling officials on hand were USA Wrestling President Stan Dziedzic and USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. ASICS has been a longtime sponsor of USA Wrestling, and has supported wrestling on all levels within the nation.    Among the FILA dignitaries in attendance were FILA Vice President Mario Saletnig and its secretary-general, Michelle Dusson.    Bill Farrell, the President of TW Promotions, the worldwide wrestling consultant for ASICS, was also included in the presentation.    "We are excited to have this relationship with FILA," said Farrell. "We have worked on this for quite some time. ASICS has agreed that this is a valuable asset for wrestling."    Farrell noted that ASICS has sponsored many international teams, not only from the United States and Japan, but many others across the globe. He noted that more than 20 nations in recent World Championships and Olympic Games were affiliated with ASICS in wrestling.