Kellogg’s have revealed today their team of Winter Olympic athletes that will represent the brand on specially-marked products, starting in late December.

Following the success of the highly popular athlete boxes from the 2012 Olympic Games, Kellogg’s is bringing them back for the Sochi Games with more featured products than ever before. The Team Kellogg’s athletes will be the faces of a variety of Kellogg’s brands on limited-edition boxes this winter.

The athletes will be featured along with the following brands:

• Gretchen Bleiler – Snowboarding – on packages of Nutri-Grain and Corn Pops
• Heath Calhoun – Paralympic Alpine Skiing – on packages of Corn Flakes
• Jim Craig – Ice Hockey Legend – on packages of Corn Flakes and Raisin Bran
• Meryl Davis and Charlie White – Ice Dancing – on packages of Crispix
• Sarah Hendrickson –Ski Jumping – on packages of Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops
• Ted Ligety – Alpine Skiing – on packages of Corn Flakes and Frosted Mini-Wheats
• Noelle Pikus-Pace – Skeleton – on packages of Rice Krispies and Cocoa Krispies
• Amy Purdy – Paralympic Snowboarding – on packages of Crunchy Nut, Frosted Mini-Wheats, Smacks and Smart Start
• Kristi Yamaguchi – Figure Skating Legend – on packages of Crispix, Frosted Mini-Wheats, Kellogg’s Fiber Plus andEggo
• Torin Yater-Wallace – Freeskiing – on packages of Pop-Tarts, Apple Jacks and Krave

“Having eaten Kellogg’s cereal since I was a kid, I’m very excited to be featured on boxes of Corn Flakes and Frosted Mini-Wheats this winter,” said Ted Ligety, U.S. Olympic alpine skier. “I’m a big proponent of the importance of breakfast, and happy to team up with Kellogg’s in support of that critical meal.”

In addition to the front-of-pack images, all of the Team Kellogg’s athletes will also be featured on the back of specially-themed packages for a wide variety of Kellogg’s brands.

“We’re thrilled to feature all of the Team Kellogg’s athletes on packaging, as a majority of them compete for Team USA to make it to the Sochi Games,” said Noel Geoffroy, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Innovation for Kellogg’s U.S. Morning Foods. “Our athletes truly believe that from great starts come great things, and we’re proud to showcase them as the face of our products.”

English fourth-tier club Accrington Stanley have announced a new partnership with Mitre which will see the UK performance brand supply official playing and training kits for the rest of the 2013/14 season.

The new home kit will be debuted on Thursday, cheap 26 December at the Boxing Day home fixture against York City at the Store First Stadium.

Stanley Chairman Peter Marsden said: “It’s unusual for a club to switch kit supplier mid-season but this is an extremely positive move forward for us for many reasons. Joining forces with such a well-respected, mainstream supplier that boasts a wealth of footballing tradition and technical expertise signals an exciting step for the club.

“The players and coaching staff love the new gear and Mitre has already been enormously supportive in providing fitness equipment as well as kit.

“We look forward to continuing to develop a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with this much-loved British brand.”

Chirag Patel, vice president of product and marketing at Mitre, said, “Accrington Stanley has a rich football heritage and we’re looking forward to seeing Mitre on the pitch at the Store First Stadium.

“The new kit not only looks great but has been designed with technical purpose and precision, putting the needs of the players first. We are confident that through this partnership we will deliver a strong service to the club, team and its supporters.”

ANZ Bank has announced it has become the first company to sponsor golf prodigy Lydia Ko, for sale as she embarks on her rookie season on the LPGA Tour in 2014.

The three-year sponsorship was announced in Auckland.

“Lydia Ko is one of New Zealand’s best and brightest young sportspeople and we’re absolutely thrilled to support her as she takes on the world, clinic ” ANZ Chief Executive Officer David Hisco said.

“As a brand that’s in every corner of the New Zealand, impotent and with a global reach across Asia and beyond, it’s great to help someone as talented as Lydia as she competes in the LPGA Tour.”

The 16-year-old former Pinehurst School student is now ranked No. 4 in the world after securing the Swinging Skirts World Ladies’ Masters by three strokes in Taiwan on December 8 of this year.

Ko turned professional in October 2013 and hired IMG for representation needs.

“It’s great to have the backing of ANZ at this crucial point in my career as I take on the international pro circuit and the best female golfers in the world,” said Ko.

“ANZ understands that to achieve excellence and success in the toughest golf competition, I’m going to need a great team behind me.”

The sponsorship sees Ko join a group of elite Kiwi athletes supported by ANZ. These include Olympic rowers Eric Murray, Hamish Bond and Emma Twigg, along with former Olympians Sarah Ulmer and Hamish Carter, and Paralympic swimmers Rebecca Dubber and Cameron Leslie.

“Elite level sport requires strength, perseverance and support. ANZ is incredibly proud to get behind our athletes as they seek to be the best in the world. They are an inspiration to us all,” Mr Hisco said.

Belkin Pro Cycling Team’s will continue to wear Bell Helmets after agreeing a deal with American helmet manufacturer for a further two years.

“We’re thrilled to continue wearing Bell Helmets for the upcoming season and through 2015, cough ” said Richard Plugge, therapy general manager of the Belkin Pro Cycling Team. “Bell’s protection and performance is unmatched in professional cycling, look and we know that with them we are getting the absolute best.”

Jessica Klodnicki, executive vice president and general manager of Bell and Blackburn Brands, welcomes and values the continued collaboration with the Belkin Pro Cycling Team. “We’re excited to extend the partnership through 2015 and build upon Bell’s heritage as a staple in road racing,” she said. “The team became a dominant force in its inaugural season, and we look forward to seeing the best riders in the peloton win with Bell.”

Electric cigarrette company E-Lites has announced professional Darts player Michael Van Gerwen has come on board as an ambassador of the brand.

The 24-year-old Dutchman is the current world number two, and and has enjoyed a successful 2013, medstore winning this year’s Premier League of Darts, beating the holder and world number one, Phil Taylor.

Michael also beat Taylor in the 2013 Players Championship, making him the only player in darts history to beat Phil Taylor in more than one final.

Van Gerwen is nicknamed “Mighty Mike” and is one of the fastest darts players on the circuit. In 2012, Michael beat Steve Beaton 6-0 in just eight minutes, scoring an average of just over 120 points in each visit to the board, the highest ever recorded. 

LPGA golfer Lexi Thompson will remain a brand ambassador Cobra Puma Golf after signing a new deal.

Thompson will continue to have a prominent presence throughout Cobra Puma Golf activities in 2014 and beyond.

“We are thrilled to continue our work with her in the coming years and watch her evolve as a world-class golfer and trend-setter on and off the course,” said President of Cobra Puma Golf, Bob Philion.

At the age of 15, Thompson was the first professional athlete to sign with both Cobra Golf and Puma Golf after the brands joined forces to be known as Cobra Puma Golf. She has been a key brand ambassador sporting Cobra Golf equipment and Puma Golf attire on and off the course.

“Being part of the Cobra Puma Golf team has played a huge role in the success of my professional golf career, and I’m excited to continue our partnership,” said Thompson.

Since turning professional in June 2010, Thompson has secured five professional wins including her most recent win at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

Alex Thomson Racing together with Five West have today announced a new four year sponsorship deal with Hugo Boss.

Hugo Boss has sponsored the British skipper since 2003.

As part of the renewed commitment to the solo-round-the-world skipper, drugs Alex will be participating in the 2014 Ocean Masters New York to Barcelona Race, price the 2014 Barcelona World Race and has his sights firmly set on winning the 2016 Vendee Globe.

Earlier this year Alex broke the British solo monohull non-stop round-the-world record when he finished on the podium of the Vendee Globe for the first time in his sailing career, generic coming in after 80 days alone at sea in the gruelling race.

Speaking at today’s announcement of his participation in the Barcelona World Race alongside Pepe Ribas, Alex Thomson said: “It is an absolute honour to continue our sponsorship with Hugo Boss. The past ten years working together has been incredible, the pinnacle of which has to be my third place finish in the Vendee Globe this year. We aim to work together in this vein of success into the future starting with the New York to Barcelona Race in June next year, followed by the Barcelona World Race.”

Five West Managing Director Stewart Hosford said: “It is a great asset for the IMOCA class to have this renewed sponsorship deal going forward. The success of the Alex Thomson / HUGO BOSS partnership has been clear to see not only in the race results and the records Alex has set, but off the timer as well in all the activity they work on together. With an enhanced IMOCA programme over the next few years, HUGO BOSS and Alex Thomson will continue to bring something special to the class.”