United Technologies Corp. has been revealed as the presenting sponsor of the newly named Connecticut Open, search Tournament Director Anne Worcester announced today.

The annual Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) event will be held August 15-23, symptoms 2014, at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University. 

The tournament’s new name — Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies — will broaden the event’s overall appeal to fans and sponsors and appropriately reflect the State of Connecticut’s investment.  

The tournament generates an estimated $26 million a year in regional economic activity, while also supporting a wide range of activities that build community pride and spirit, especially among young people. 

“United Technologies is proud to support the Connecticut Open as its new presenting sponsor,” said United Technologies Chairman & CEO Louis Chênevert. “Our partnership with the tournament, the State of Connecticut, Smilow Cancer Hospital and the other corporate sponsors will ensure a world-class event and build on UTC’s long history of supporting leading organizations in our community.” 

“With an economic impact of approximately $26 million annually, it goes without saying that this tournament is good for Connecticut. Each year, the tournament draws tens of thousands of spectators and volunteers from across the country, many of whom eat at local restaurants, stay at local hotels and shop at local businesses,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy. “UTC’s decision to become the corporate sponsor of the Connecticut Open demonstrates the company’s commitment to being a good neighbor and sharing our vision for making this state a more attractive place to visit, live, work, invest and do business.” 

On Monday, August 18, United Technologies will present Military Appreciation Night, featuring a performance of the National Anthem, a Color Guard, and special veteran recognition in the Stadium. Active duty military personnel and veterans who purchase one ticket for the night will get a second ticket free.

In addition, United Technologies will partner with the tournament in fundraising for Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven, a cause proudly supported by United Technologies. Tournament players will ride an on-site spin bike to generate awareness and donations for Smilow’s “Closer to Free” bike ride on September 6. 

“The last nine months have been incredibly transformational for the tournament, in large part thanks to the State of Connecticut. Rebranding as the ‘Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies’ is another significant step in the growth of this event,” said Worcester. “The tournament is a large-scale international sporting event and we are thrilled to be partnering with a global leader in United Technologies. Together, we can take the tournament to the next level, and continue to give back and positively impact our local communities.”

English fifth-tier team Forest Green Rovers have announced that PUMA will be its official kit supplier, buy as the start of the new season.

Forest Green Rovers chairman Dale Vince said: “PUMA’s combined focus on performance and environmental outcomes resonate for FGR.  A big part of our approach is to show that going green is not a compromise; that you can have both performance and lower environment impact – often the two go hand in hand.

“Working with PUMA has already been a great experience for us, medstore they gave us the flexibility to design ourselves a completely original home strip and an away strip that is a nod to the past combined with a modern twist.

“The new home strip will be launched in two weeks time and the away kit a little later.”

Forest Green will join Arsenal, Newcastle and Rangers playing in PUMA kit.

PUMA Marketing Director Ruth How said: “Forest Green Rovers are a club that share our core business values of sustainability. It is important for us to partner with clubs that operate with the same integrity off the pitch as they do on it, and we look forward to working with Forest Green to create great kits moving forward.”

BlueAnt, price maker of the PUMP HD sport headphone, pills has announced today it will be the Official Training Headphone sponsor of the 2014 and 2015 Reebok CrossFitGames.

The CrossFit Games are an annual fitness competition created and operated by CrossFit, Inc. where elite athletes compete for the title of Fittest on Earth and a piece of a $1.4 million purse. The CrossFit Games, now in their eighth year, will be held July 25-27 at The StubHub Center in Carson, CA and broadcast on the ESPN network.

The PUMP HD delivers crystal clear audio and is currently the only set of wireless sport earbuds to carry the IP67 waterproof distinction, making them the ideal training headphones for athletes performing high-intensity workouts like those found at the CrossFit Games. The military-grade, rugged design with a Teflon™ coating and Kevlar™ shielding protects the premium audio components from rain, dust, debris, sweat and even a rinse under the tap at the end of a workout.

“We’re extremely happy to have BlueAnt on board as the Official Training Headphone sponsor of the 2014 and 2015 Reebok CrossFit Games,” said Steve Weiss, Corporate Development for CrossFit, Inc. “The BlueAnt PUMP’s emphasis on ruggedness while performing constantly varied, functional movements at high intensity makes them a natural fit as a sponsor for the CrossFit Games.”

“When we designed the PUMP, we wanted to build a headphone that inspired active people to push themselves further and not be hindered by a technology as fundamental as headphones,” said Taisen Maddern, CEO of BlueAnt. “The partnership with the CrossFit Games supports our mission to build unbreakable sport headphones, forged for the fittest individuals that offer audio and wireless performance unmatched by any others on the market, no matter how hard the training regimen becomes.”

Volkswagen Motorsport have extended their long-term commitment to the FIA World Rally Championship until 2019.

Volkswagen made its first appearance in the WRC with the Polo R WRC in 2013. The team went on to win all three titles – Driver, Co-driver and Manufacturer – in their first season.

This season, the works team broke the record for most consecutive Rally wins – previously set by rivals Citroen. The team is currently on their tenth consecutive win after Sebastien Ogier’s victory in Rally Italia.

Volkswagen also currently hold a commanding lead in the World Championship with their works drivers first, second and fourth respectively.

Volkswagen Board Member for Technical Development, Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser is delighted with the decision to commit. He said: “The FIA World Rally Championship is a very good platform for Volkswagen to demonstrate the efficiency, dynamics and reliability of its cars to a global public.”

“The series is closely orientated towards the technology used in the latest production vehicles and is based on the kind of real conditions that our customers all over the world experience on a daily basis.”

“Furthermore, millions of people are passionate about this spectacular sport.The close interaction between the production and motorsport development departments at Volkswagen, the sporting contest with our direct rivals in various markets, and the huge potential for marketing in the media led to our decision to commit to a long-term involvement in the World Rally Championship.”

Originally, Volkswagen had only planned to be involved with the WRC for three years – from 2013 to 2015. But following their outstanding success and hard work the board felt compelled to extend involvement for further four years.

Volkswagen Motorsport Director, Jost Capito said: “The Volkswagen Board’s decision to commit until 2019 makes us very proud. Volkswagen has never implemented a long-term motorsport programme on this scale before.”

“This faith is a huge motivation for our entire team to continue to show the same degree of passion, determination and commitment to ensure we remain successful in the Wrold Rally Championship.”

Capito also mentioned the growing need for extended media coverage for the sport: “A prerequisite for the success of the championship itself is a format optimised for TV, in order to make rallying more attractive for the general public. We call upon the promoters to work together with the manufacturers to significantly increase the media coverage of the series.”

Newly promoted English Championship club Rotherham United have announced solicitors Irwin Mitchell as the club’s new Business Partner. 

Irwin Mitchell’s new agreement with the club will see their name continue on Rotherham United’s matchday Millers TV service, as well as numerous other planned commercial projects.

“This is another partnership that was a key component to our future commercial activity so it gives me great pleasure to announce Irwin Mitchell as our new Business Partner,” said Commercial Director Steve Coakley.

“Supporters will have seen the Irwin Mitchell branding on our matchday concourse TV service last season and I am pleased to say that will continue next season along with several other commercial ventures.

“Another company with a proven track record, this is another fantastic partnership for both parties.”

Steve Beahan, Commercial Litigation Partner at Irwin Mitchell in Sheffield added:
“Rotherham United is clearly a team which is on the up and we are delighted to be involved, particularly at this exciting time in their history and development. We wish the club well in the Championship next season and look forward to a successful partnership.”

The British Olympic Association (BOA) have today secured their first ever Official Fitness Partner with the appointment of Fitness First. 

An industry leader in health and fitness, view Fitness First will support Team GB athletes as they fine tune their preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, pharmacy buy including the provision of fitness equipment, pharm fitness expertise and access to Fitness First facilities. 

BOA Chairman, Seb Coe commented: “The synergy between Team GB and Fitness First is very clear and obvious, embracing sport and getting the nation to understand what elite competition is about, along with challenging all those big issues such as physical inactivity. Partnering with world class organisations to help us deliver on all things that we hold dear at the BOA is crucial and I am delighted to welcome Fitness First to our British Olympic Family.”

BOA CEO, Bill Sweeney added: “Fitness First is one of the largest fitness brands in the world and we are thrilled to be partnering with them on our journey to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Our partnership with Fitness First marks the British Olympic Association’s first ever Fitness Partner and I look forward to working with them on some exciting projects over the coming years.”

Martin Seibold, Fitness First UK Managing Director commented: “Fitness First provides inspiration and motivation to empower people to go further with their own fitness journey. As two organisations who believe in the ability of expert support teams to motivate and inspire greatness, we look forward to working closely with the British Olympic Association to support Team GB athletes and Fitness First members.”

Fitness First and the British Olympic Association will announce additional activities to involve Team GB athletes, Fitness First members and the general public in the partnership.

National Rugby League’s Canberra Raiders have extended their major partnership agreement with Huawei Technologies for the 2015 season.

Huawei and the Canberra Raiders joined forces in March, 2012 and have since formed a strong partnership.

Huawei Australia Chairman. John Lord said the company was delighted to extend its longest global sports sponsorship with the Canberra Raiders for another year.

“The Raiders sponsorship was the first professional sporting partnership that the company entered into globally,” Mr Lord said.

“The Green Machine is now part of a sponsorship stable that includes some of the biggest names in world sport – Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, the Spanish La Liga and the IPL’s Royal Challengers Bangalore.”

“The Raiders have provided Huawei with a fabulous opportunity to grow and strengthen our brand in Australia and we look forward to new and exciting initiatives in 2015.”

Raiders CEO Don Furner said the extension of the partnership with Huawei was paramount to the Raiders future and looked forward to another positive season working together.

“Huawei is one of the world leaders of information and communications technology and to have them maintain their association with the Raiders is a major positive for our organisation and members,” Mr Furner said. “The international profile Huawei brings to the Raiders is invaluable and their commitment and loyalty to the Raiders has been outstanding.

“We are proud to be associated with Huawei and have helped them establish their brand in Australia, recently showcasing their new Ascend G6 smartphone to an international audience by wearing specially designed Golden jerseys in round 11.

“We look forward to continuing our successful partnership into 2015.”