Sponsor Santander Bank names the official mascot of the 2011 Copa America “Tangolero”

BUENOS AIRES, June 30, 2011 - During today's presentation in Buenos Aires, Santander Bank presented the name Tangolero as the name for the official mascot of the 2011 Copa America. Tangolero is a flightless bird, and a native animal in Argentina. The choice of the mascot represents cultural traditions in Argentina, in dance (tango) and in soccer (goalkeeping). Giving the mascot a name is one of Santander Bank’s rights as sponsor of the competition.

After a vote, in which more than 6,000 employees, journalists, students and clients of Santander Bank in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay and Peru participated, the name Tangolero was the most popular. Following name considerations and a final vote Tangolero won over five other proposals.

Today in Buenos Aires, Santander Bank presented its social responsibility initiative "Solidarity Santander Goals" which it plans to undertake throughout the football competition in Latin America. Santander Bank, the official bank sponsor of the Copa America, will also donate $ 1,000 for every goal scored during the Copa America to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the tournament's official charity.

The money raised will go toward projects promoting early childhood education in Latin America. This will strengthen Santander Bank’s regional commitment to education and to soccer using the slogan "Your passion, our commitment." In the previous edition of the Copa America 86 goals were scored in 44 games.

As the main sponsor of the Copa America, Santander Bank will grant the top scoring player in the competition the ‘Santander Trophy’.  After the World Cup, Copa America is on the same level as the Euro Cup and is one of the most important competitions for national teams in the world.

The Copa America is held every four years and is the most watched football competition on the continent.

It is broadcast on free TV in almost every country of the Americas. During the 2007 edition there was coverage in over 200 countries around the world, more than 25,000 hours of broadcasting and a global cumulative audience of over 500 million viewers.