<p>NYON, Switzerland — Video sharing app TikTok was announced as a sponsor for this year’s European Championship on Thursday, becoming the fourth Chinese backer of the soccer tournament.</p>
<p>No value was disclosed for the deal, which was confirmed eight months after Euro 2020 was due to start. The 24-team tournament was postponed by one year because of the coronavirus pandemic — a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/6644250c176312c736b8dd9ebec76c51">decision UEFA said then</a> could cost “hundreds of millions” of dollars.</p>
<p>The potential <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2f18f18a8b40a4635fd3590fd159241c">influence of young TikTok users</a> was shown last June when they were cited as a reason for inflated expectations for attendance at former U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.</p>
<p>The soccer deal was negotiated against the backdrop of an <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jen-psaki-ca5e68d8b23cb26a0e964b3ea5fe826d">ongoing court action</a> after the Trump administration tried to ban TikTok from smartphone app stores as a threat to national security unless it came under greater American control.</p>
<p>Chinese companies now comprise four of UEFA’s 11 main tournament sponsors. TikTok joins Alipay, Hisense and Vivo.</p>
<p>UEFA said fans could use the app to “create their own special moments, reactions and celebrations around the tournament.”</p>
<p>“UEFA will also give TikTok access to its huge library of historical assets to develop highly engaging and innovative content,” the European soccer body said.</p>
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<p>More AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AP_Sports">https://twitter.com/AP_Sports</a></p>
