From the blue waters of Bora Bora to the white sand beaches of the Bahamas, Budweiser will help sports fans view paradise as an exclusive promotional partner of Sports Illustrated's annual Swimsuit Issue. Budweiser is partnering with Sports Illustrated supermodel Molly Sims for exclusive point-of-sale and promotional materials.

Sports Illustrated will team with the Bud to promote the most highly anticipated magazine issue of the year. Budweiser will be the exclusive malt beverage and alcohol promotional partner of the 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and will host parties for the release.

"America's premium beer, Budweiser, and America's premium sports magazine, Sports Illustrated, are proud to team together to offer this exclusive opportunity to adult beer drinkers and fans of the Swimsuit Issue," said Tony Ponturo of Anheuser-Busch.

The exclusive partnership extends Anheuser-Busch's strategy of big event advertising. Anheuser-Busch is the exclusive alcohol advertiser on many of the most-watched events in 2006, including the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup and the Academy Awards, and now adds the single most-read magazine issue of the year, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

"SI is excited to combine the power of the world's most widely-read magazine issue with the world's most recognized beer brand," said Jeff Price of Sports Illustrated. "This valuable relationship leverages the most important business elements of the Swimsuit franchise: advertising in the magazine and on SI.com, retail, event marketing and consumer promotions."

Budweiser will take the Swimsuit Issue to the fans by hosting exclusive pre-release parties in more than 50 markets across the nation, offering attendees the first issues off the presses the night before the official release. Beer drinkers may also visit Budweiser.com or SI.com starting February 14 to register for a chance to win two all expenses-paid trips to next year's Swimsuit Issue photo shoot.

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue reaches over 64 million U.S. adults.

Budweiser will support the launch with a full line of in-store promotional materials with Sims, a featured model in the issue. Sims, who currently co-stars in the NBC primetime hit Las Vegas, will appear on Budweiser's co-branded point-of-sale materials, including a model stand-up display, table tents, banners and a limited edition poster. Dollar coupons on the purchase price of the SI Swimsuit Issue will be given out with 12-packs.