LG Sponsors New International Women's Baseball Tournament

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Aug. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- LG Electronics, in partnership with the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and the Women's Baseball Association of Korea (WBAK), will be the title sponsor of the LG Cup International Women's Baseball Tournament 2014, which starts Friday in South Korea.

The inaugural LG Cup takes place Aug. 22-25 at LG Champions Park in Icheon and will feature eight teams from seven countries around the world, including the United States. Through this tournament, LG, the IBAF and WBAK hope to grow the popularity of women's baseball and encourage women from all backgrounds to participate in one of the world's most popular sports.

Women's baseball has a long and storied history in the annals of sports, with the formation of the first professional female team in 1867 in Philadelphia two years before the first men's professional baseball club. Historically, there have been only two international baseball competitions for female players – the Phoenix Cup IBAF Hong Kong International Women's Baseball Tournament and the Women's Baseball World Cup, which is held every two years. The LG Cup 2014 provides another much-needed opportunity for women to participate on the world stage at the highest level of competition.

The LG Cup 2014 will host one team each from the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia and India, and two teams from South Korea. The champion will be determined over the course of 16 games, including group stage and playoff match-ups.    LG Electronics Vice Chairman and CEO Bon-joon Koo and WBAK Vice Chairman Kwang-hwan Lee will participate in the opening ceremony and commemorate the start of the LG Cup 2014 along with 150 players from around the world.

The LG Cup 2014 exemplifies the company's desire to expand opportunities for women to succeed and to excel on the global stage. LG has a long history of supporting women's health and wellness around the world and has even made such sports activities a key component of its Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. In the same spirit, LG is helping to cover the Indian team's expenses, enabling the 22-member team to make the journey to South Korea to compete as proud representatives of their country.

"LG greatly admires the passion and ability of these women athletes who have continued to pursue a sport even when there was limited support from their own communities," said LG CEO Koo. "We think it's important that women continue to have opportunities to participate and succeed in fields that are traditionally off-limits to them. LG is proud to take a leadership role in celebrating women's achievements, whether that's in the sports arena, family, or business."

About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing 82,000 people working in 119 locations around the world. With 2013 global sales of USD 53.10 billion (KRW 58.14 trillion), LG comprises five business units — Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliances, Air Conditioning & Energy Solutions and Vehicle Components — and is one of the world's leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. For more LG news and information, please visit www.LGnewsroom.com.

About LG Electronics USA
LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $53 billion global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. LG Electronics, a proud 2014 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, mobile phones, home appliances, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and solar energy solutions in the United States, all under LG's "Life's Good" marketing theme. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

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SOURCE LG Electronics USA, Inc.