THE EARLY YEARSEvery great story ha

THE EARLY YEARS
Every great story has a beginning. This one started in a small town in Bavaria, Germany. After first steps in his mother’s wash kitchen, Adi Dassler registered the “Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik” in 1924 and embarked on his mission to provide athletes with the best possible equipment. Gold medals in Amsterdam (1928, Lina Radke) and Berlin (1936, Jesse Owens) were first rewards and milestones – and only the start of our story.
FOUNDING FATHER
On August 18, 1949, Adi Dassler started over again at the age of 49, registered the “Adi Dassler adidas Sportschuhfabrik” and set to work with 47 employees in the small town of Herzogenaurach. On the same day, he registered a shoe that included the registration of the soon-to-become-famous adidas 3-Stripes. From humble beginnings to a global success story – which was accelerated by a miracle …
A MIRACLE IN BERN
Who would have thought that screw-in-studs on lightweight football boots would help write history? When the German national football team faced the unbeatable Hungarians in the 1954 World Cup final, they won so much more than just a trophy. Their unbelievable victory would be heard around the world for decades to come. And it made adidas and its founder a household name on football pitches everywhere.

Adolf "Adi" Dassler
Adolf "Adi" Dassler (born 3 November 1900 in Herzogenaurach, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire; died 6 September 1978 in Herzogenaurach, West Germany) was the founder of the German sportswear company Adidas and the younger brother of Rudolf Dassler, founder of Puma.
Trained as a cobbler, Adi Dassler started to produce his own sports shoes in his mother's laundry after his return from World War I. His father, Christoph, who worked in a shoe factory, and the Zehlein brothers, who produced the handmade spikes for track shoes in their blacksmith's shop, supported Dassler in starting his own business. On 1 July 1924, his older brother Rudolf Dassler joined the business, which became the Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory).
At the 1928 Olympics, Dassler equipped many athletes, laying the foundation for the international expansion of the company. During the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Dassler equipped Jesse Owens of the USA with his shoes. Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals in the year he wore Adi's shoes.
With the rise of Adolf Hitler in the 1930s, both Dassler brothers joined the Nazi Party, with Rudolf reputed as being the more ardent National Socialist.[1] Rudolf was drafted, and later captured, while Adi stayed behind to produce boots for the Wehrmacht and then broke away from the Nazi Party.[2] The war exacerbated the differences between the brothers and their wives. Rudolf, upon his capture by American troops, was suspected of being a member of the SS, information supposedly supplied by none other than his brother Adi.[3]
By 1948, the rift between the brothers widened. Rudolf left the company to found Puma on the other side of town (across the Aurach River), and Adolf Dassler renamed the company Adidas after his own nickname. (Adi Dassler).
In 1973, Adolf Dassler's son Horst Dassler founded Arena, a producer of swimming equipment. After Adolf Dassler's death in 1978, Horst and his wife Käthe took over the management. Horst died nine years later, in 1987. Adidas was transformed into a private limited company in 1989, but remained family property until its IPO in 1995.
Sculpture of Adolf Dassler in the Adi-Dassler-Stadium Herzogenaurach, artist Josef Tabachnyk (de), Bronze, 2006
In 2006, a sculpture of Adolf Dassler was opened up in the Adi-Dassler-Stadium in Herzogenaurauch. It was created by the artist Josef Tabachnyk (de).[4]


Corporate
I would like to know more about the company, its structure, its strategies...
You can find information about adidas AG by visiting our corporate website by clicking here
What are adidas's labour policies?
Corporate information on social and environmental affairs, including labour issues, can be found in the "sustainability" section of adidas-group.com,which you can access by clicking here .
What are adidas's policies on privacy?
adidas's policy is to respect and protect the privacy of our users. adidas and its affiliates will never disclose individually identifiable information about its customers to any third party without first receiving that customer's permission. Our policy statement, which you can see by clicking here , tells you how we collect information from you and how we use it. Using the Internet should be a fun and non-threatening experience and we want to help make it so.
Where can I find information about adidas and the environment?
Corporate information on social and environmental affairs, including issues about the environment, can be found in the "sustainability" section of adidas-group.com, which you can access by clicking here .
Where can I find information on adidas stock?
The adidas AG share is listed on the "Deutsche Börse" stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany. The stock is part of the DAX-30 index, which includes only the largest German companies listed. For qualified institutional investors in the US, who are restricted to investing in US-papers, adidas AG has an unsponsored ADR program according to Rule 144A. The ratio is two ADRs per ordinary share. For more information on the adidas AG stock please visit the Investor Relations section on our corporate website adidas-group.com by clicking here .
Where can I find out more about job opportunities within adidas?
Employment opportunities can be found at the Career Centre, which you can access by clicking here .
Where can I get more information about the history of adidas?
As we are very proud of the heritage of our company, we decided to dedicate a whole area of the website to the story of adidas and its founder, Adi Dassler. You can find this in the "about us" section or by clicking here . Some information can be found as well on the corporate adidas-group.com by clicking here .
Where does the name "adidas" come from?
The name "adidas" dates back to 1948 and comes from the name of the company's founder, Adolf Dassler. By putting together his nickname "Adi" and the first letters of his surname, the name "adidas" was born.
Who do I contact regarding product placement, celebrity, entertainment or non-sport related sponsorship questions, including film and music related opportunities?
Honestly, all sponsorship initiatives by adidas for Performance (Sports) or Originals (Lifestyle) are related to sports.
Who do I speak to about sponsorship for a team, organization or athlete?
adidas receives many sponsorship requests from deserving teams, athletes, and organizations and we regret we are unable to respond affirmatively to every need. We are dedicated to creating opportunities for participation and competition in all sports for athletes on every level. Our affiliates are chosen because they embody the best of sports: teamwork, honesty, pride, personal accountability and discipline. For sponsorship requests please send your proposal to the Sports Marketing department marked for the attention of the appropriate sports category (tennis, soccer, etc.) at the following address: adidas AG Global Sports Marketing World of Sports 91074 Herzogenaurach Germany
An adidas representative will contact you concerning your proposal. We appreciate your interest in adidas and congratulate you on your accomplishments.
Who founded adidas?
Adi Dassler was the founder of adidas. If you want to know more about him, his family, and his passion for sport, please visit our history section in the "about us" section.
Whom do I contact at adidas regarding donations or charitable contributions?
All requests for corporate donations must be submitted in writing. Requests for charitable contributions or donations to individuals or non-profit organizations should be 1 to 10 pages in length and should include any recent articles or brochures about your charity.
Request should be directed to: adidas AG Adi-Dassler Str. 1-2 91074 Herzogenaurach Germany