Basketball Australia has announced a deal that makes Virgin Australia the Official Airline of the Australian Opals, order Boomers and Basketball Australia.

As part of the two-year deal, which extends through to 2016, Virgin Australia will provide athletes with travel to and from the 2014 FIBA World Cup and World Championships this year.

Basketball fans will also be able to track the Boomers’ and Opals’ World Cup and Championships journey through exclusive, behind-the-scenes digital content across both tournaments powered by Virgin Australia.

Basketball Australia Chair Scott Derwin said: “We’re extremely pleased to be able to strengthen our relationship with Virgin Australia. The airline has been a great supporter of Australian basketball for some time now.” 

“Over the last decade, Virgin Australia has provided invaluable support to both the National Basketball League and the Women’s National Basketball League, and we’re thrilled the airline is now throwing significant weight behind our national teams.

“Virgin Australia is an iconic brand providing world class service to millions of Australians day in and day out – Basketball Australia is incredibly proud to have them partner with our elite athletes ahead of this year’s World Cup and Championships.”

Virgin Australia, General Manager of Marketing, Michael Scott commented: “We are very pleased to be extending our support to the national teams at the World Cup and Championships.

“As the official airline sponsor, we will be able to use our international network and digital expertise to support and showcase this fantastic sport, its teams and players. We look forward to welcoming them on board and sharing their journey with the fans.”

The Australian team is set to compete in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup for Men in Spain from 30 August to 15 September.

The 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women will be held in Turkey from 27 September to 5 October.

Sunfoil has renewed its title sponsorship of the Dolphins for a further two years today, healing further strengthening the partnership between the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union (KZNCU) and the Willowton Group.

The Sunfoil sponsorship will run for a further two years from the start of the 2014/15 season, with an option to renew for another year at the end of the initial period.

“Two iconic and much loved KwaZulu-Natal brands will once again join forces to boost KZN’s provincial cricket heroes, the Dolphins, to new heights,” said Shoaib Moosa, Sales and Marketing Director of Willowton Group, the manufacturers of Sunfoil Pure Sunflower Oil. “We share KZNCU’s vision of making the Sunfoil Dolphins South Africa’s premier domestic cricket brand.”

“This is a good strategic fit and a powerful alliance of two dynamic organisations,” said Jesse Chellan, Chief Executive Officer of the KZN Cricket Union. “We ended last season on a high and have strong expectations of more trophies from the Sunfoil Dolphins in the season ahead.” 

“The Dolphins sponsorship adds great value and has helped the Sunfoil brand stay top of heart and mind with KZN consumers,” said Moosa. “It gives Sunfoil, as the leading cooking brand nationally, a unique marketing opportunity to maintain high levels of awareness for most of the year and to communicate with its loyal consumers, the Sunfoil Dolphins fans.” 

“The sponsorship has been part of a continued growth plan for the brand within KZN and has yielded good results, with consumers supporting the Sunfoil brand with as much passion and enthusiasm as they do their beloved Dolphins team.” 

“We are looking for further ways that Sunfoil Dolphins fans can benefit from the Sunfoil sponsorship and unlock further value from the brand at the stadium and in-store,” said Moosa. Both brands will be running a tantalising, interactive pre-season marketing campaign to let loyal fans know that they’re going to be in for a bumper season with the Sunfoil Dolphins. 

“With the success of the past season the renewed sponsorship is very much incentive and performance driven and we are very confident in the future of KZN cricket,” said Moosa. 

Fa-eez Jaffar, President of the KZN Cricket Union said, “I believe that the partnership between Willowton Group and the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union has become even stronger. Both parties are winning brands and household names in the province. This special partnership has contributed towards the growth of the game. Willowton has always been closely involved in development and giving back to the people. This 2 year deal will enable us to take the game even further into the province.” 

“The initial three years of the sponsorship have gone past so quickly with many great achievements including the Dolphins winning the T20 after many years without a trophy,” Moosa said. “We feel that there is strong synergy in play and there are still many great opportunities for both parties to leverage going forward. We look forward to continuing our support for the Dolphins, and taking our partnership to the next level.” 

Moosa concluded by saying, “We wish the Sunfoil Dolphins the best for the T20 Champions League ahead. It has to be said – now we’re cooking!”

The team plays in the it plays in the South African Sunfoil Series first class competition, Momentum 1 Day Cup and RamSlam Pro 20 Series limited over competitions.

PNC Financial Services Group has extended its sponsorship of Orlando’s Champions Tour stop.

IMG Golf said on Titter: “IMG Golf announced today that PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has renewed its contract as title sponsor of the PNC Father/Son Challenge.”

The multi-year extension will keep the final event of the tour’s season in Orlando.

PNC became title sponsor in 2012, bringing back the tournament that was held in central Florida from 1995 to 2008.

This year’s tournament is set for Dec. 11-14 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Grande Lakes. It will air live on Golf Channel and NBC. Its 20-team field includes defending champions Stewart and Connor Cink and 19 other golfers who will be paired with a son or daughter.

PNC has a number of sports sponsorship including naming rights sponsor of Carolina Hurricanes home arena and Chip Ganassi Racing. 

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) announced today that Calamos Investments and Rolex will become Ambassador Sponsors for the second edition of the LPGA’s International Crown, medstore to be played in July 2016 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove/Big Rock, allergist IL.

The International Crown is the first-of-its-kind biennial, herbal team match play competition featuring the best female golfers from the top eight countries across the globe, based on the combined Rolex World Ranking of the top four players from each country.

“The LPGA is pleased to announce the support of our Ambassador Sponsors for the second staging of International Crown Tournament in two short years,” said LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan. “Calamos Investments and Rolex are tremendous global brands that we are proud to have associated with our new marquee global event in women’s professional golf.”

Calamos Investments, partnered with the LPGA back in 2009 for The Solheim Cup, bringing clients and guests to the event, as well as having an advertising presence. “Rich Harvest Farms is a spectacular course and we embrace being a part of this global event to showcase the resources and world class amenities of Chicago’s western suburbs,” said John P. Calamos, Sr, CEO of Calamos Investments. CityGate Centre, the corporate campus of Calamos Investments, is also home to Hotel Arista and will be a hub of activity for the 2016 International Crown. “We are pleased to host the many visitors from abroad during the event and provide them with world-class hospitality,” said Calamos.

Rolex, the “Official Timepiece of the LPGA,” has partnered with the association for the last 34 years. Rolex honors the best of the best each year on the LPGA through the Rolex Player of the Year Award, the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award and the Rolex First-Time Winner award. Since 2006, Rolex also has titled the Rolex Rankings, the first-ever comprehensive world rankings system for women’s golf and since 2009 as a Global Partner of the Solheim Cup.

“We are extremely pleased that Rolex is extending its global support and continuing as a partner of The International Crown,” said Whan.

Stratasys Ltd., anabolics a global leader of 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions, makes its NASCAR Nationwide Series debut, has been revealed as one of the sponsors of the No. 11 Toyota, driven by Elliott Sadler and fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), in the U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 2.

GR has incorporated Stratasys’ FDM technology into their race program for more than a decade, giving them advantages in prototyping and production. The Fortus 400mc 3D Production System allows JGR to print parts for functional testing and end use parts for their cars.

“Stratasys has been a technology partner with Joe Gibbs Racing for over 10 years. We started out making a few prototype pieces for motor development. Today, Stratasys supports many projects and several departments,” says Mark Bringle, technical sponsorship and marketing director at JGR. “It is an accurate statement that the use of Stratasys technology has sped up the development process, totally changing the way we go about manufacturing.”

Recently, JGR expanded their 3D printing technology by adding the Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer. The PolyJet technology allows JGR to 3D print color multi-material parts ranging from rigid to flexible all within the same build. The results are reduced costs, improved quality, improved design efficiency, increased profit and increased competitive advantage.

“The automotive industry has been quick to adopt cutting-edge additive manufacturing,” says Eric Bert, vice president of sales in North America for Stratasys. “As one of the premier racing teams on the NASCAR Nationwide Series circuit, JGR uses 3D printing for advanced applications including compressed engineering development cycles, critical component design optimization, jigs and fixture creation, and end use part production. We’re very pleased to support the Joe Gibbs Racing team on their road to victory.”

Bundesliga 2. team FC Kauserslauten has signed paysafecard.com as its new mains sponsor in a one-year deal.

The first home game of the new season on Monday, generic August 4, medstore 2014, medstore against TSV 1860 München, the Red Devils run with the logo of paysafecard on the chest. The paysafecard.com value cards GmbH, part of the international Skrill group, European leader in online prepaid payment solutions on the web.

Components of the benefit package in addition to the shirt sponsorship, among other eye-catching presence on the TV mega-band, the new LED video boards at the Fritz-Walter Stadium, and on the social media channels of the 1st FC Kaiserslautern.

Udo Müller, CEO of paysafecard.com said: “The focus of the international sports sponsorship by paysafecard is in football – constants as high quality, long-term, team spirit and the will to give the best of which combine paysafecard with 1 FC Kaiserslautern.

“We are proud to be the main sponsor of a traditional club and are delighted to accompany the “Red Devils” in the coming season. The first-class potential, which has the first FC Kaiserslautern, yet offers great opportunities for a promising future development. For us, Germany is one of our most important markets and in sports as well as economic point of view is always an important partner. We are confident that both sides can benefit from the partnership in the highest, because success can be experienced together at best. “

FCK chairman Stefan Kuntz said: “With our new main sponsor, we have provided the last important stage for a successful 2014/15 season. We are pleased to have found paysafecard beyond an internationally operating partner who fits well with its values ??such as fairness and honesty 1 FC Kaiserslautern.”