National Rugby League team, troche Brisbane Broncos has announced fluid transfer solutions company Pirtek will sponsor the backs of the club’s home and away jerseys from 2014 in a new three-year deal.

The club also released its new Nike away jersey for next year – featuring an angled maroon graduated pattern, and the Pirtek logo emblazoned beneath the number on each player’s back.

The move represents a shift for Pirtek, who previously held a long-term sponsorship with the Parramatta Eels.

“After our nine-year association with the Eels concluded this year, Pirtek has decided to expand its sponsorship portfolio across a number of mediums,” said Pirtek Fluid Systems Chief Executive Stephen Dutton.

“We have chosen the Brisbane Broncos as a great platform to help us grow and develop our markets across Queensland, where we have an existing franchise network with 29 locations.

“Rugby League has been a great vehicle to build recognition of Pirtek in New South Wales, so now we see this sport as an opportunity to continue building that strength in Queensland.

“The Broncos are such an iconic club and share the same philosophies and ideals of quality, success and service as the Pirtek business.

“We are proud to officially link with the Broncos’ brand, and look forward to working together to build our business and community ideals.”

The announcement comes as the Broncos prepare for the club’s Annual Awards Presentation Ball which will be held tonight.

Broncos Chief Executive Paul White said securing the Pirtek sponsorship and releasing a new away jersey showed the club was already looking to 2014.

“It’s another great sign for this club that we’ve been able to sign a Premier Sponsorship with a company of Pirtek’s calibre.”

“Pirtek’s brand is synonymous with League, and now it’ll become closely associated with us, as they strengthen their market share across QLD which is Broncos territory.

“We’re also rapt to unveil our new, modern-looking away jersey by Nike featuring the Pirtek logo, which also replaces Hans on our home jersey.

“Having visited Pirtek’s Head Office in Blacktown, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the scale and quality of their operations and the values displayed by company management.”

The announcement completes a busy week for Pirtek who took over the naming rights to Parramatta Stadium on Wednesday with the NSW State Government.

Manchester United has extended their partnership global children’s charity UNICEF.

The renewed partnership will see United commit £1million to fund vital child protection work and are calling on the club’s supporters to unite to protect children.

The United for UNICEF partnership has been hugely successful over the last 13 years, raising £3million and helping more than 3.4million vulnerable children worldwide.

It is the longest running partnership of its kind between a sporting organisation and a global charity.

Of the new £1million commitment, £500,000 will be used to fund UNICEF’s essential work to protect children in Vietnam where 20% of the estimated 23.6million children living in the country are vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and neglect.

The funding will be used to support children who are orphans, those who have been involved in child labour or trafficking, and others who live on the streets or suffer from drug abuse.

Announcing the partnership renewal at the club’s Aon Training Complex, United Manager, David Moyes said: “Manchester United is very proud of United for UNICEF and the many young lives it has helped in the last 13 years. The team and I are therefore delighted to support the renewal of this incredible partnership and highlight UNICEF’s vital child protection work.

“In my short time as Manchester United manager I have already travelled halfway around the world and witnessed first-hand the Club’s unbelievable fan base, and together I am confident we will help United for UNICEF raise another £1 million.”

David Bull, Executive Director of UNICEF UK, said: “We are immensely proud of our long-standing partnership with Manchester United and the continued commitment from the club and its fans to improving the lives of vulnerable children across the world.

“UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary donations and partnerships like United for UNICEF, and we are delighted that Manchester United has renewed this partnership for a further three years, helping us make a lasting difference to the lives of many more children.”

{jcomments on}

NBA player Joakim Noah has signed a new endorsement deal with apparel giant adidas replacing former sponsor Le Coq Sportif

The Bulls center openly announced his new partnership during the first week of training camp and had been seen on the court in adidas kicks.

But his decision to leave French brand Le Coq Sportif had nothing to do with the chronic plantar fasciitis issues he’s dealt with over the years, but his passion for helping out in the community.

“When I was going through the process, I wanted to go with somebody who would understand what I was trying to do in the community and help with some of the things that I want to do,” Noah said in an interview with CSN Chicago. “I’m so happy to be with Adidas because I think the potential of doing something important is so much bigger, especially with playing with Derrick. It’s definitely something that I took into consideration. In terms of making the biggest impact, I think that Adidas is the way to go.”

Joakim Noah now joins a long list of adidas brand ambassadors on the Bulls roster which includes Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, Marquis Teague, and rookies Tony Snell and Erik Murphy.

Rose has also stated that he’d like to involve himself more with Noah’s Arc Foundation when it comes to giving back to the community.

“We always talk about that, especially with him joining adidas, us both wanting to give back to the community,” Rose said. “I think adidas is going to have something in the future. I know they’re already planning trips for us, especially when I go back to Paris next summer or whenever it is. Really, it’s up to Joakim because he’s real big in [the community] and for me, I’d like to do something with his foundation.”

{jcomments on}

Bell Canada has signed a new National Basketball Association (NBA) that enhances Bell’s position as the official communications partner for basketball in Canada.

“Bell is excited to partner with the National Basketball Association as part of our broad commitment to basketball in Canada, which includes our recently announced partnership with the Raptors, Canada’s NBA team, and Bell’s support for Canada Basketball and our country’s national teams,” said Wade Oosterman, President of Bell Mobility and Residential Services, and Chief Brand Officer at Bell. “Bell is taking the lead in driving the growth of one of the most popular and fastest-growing youth participation team sports in Canada.”

As an Official Partner of the NBA, Bell will leverage its mobile network and services leadership to deliver more for Canadian basketball fans:

Bell will be the presenting sponsor of the NBA Canada Series pre-season game platform beginning with the upcoming match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics on October 20 at Bell Centre in Montréal.
Also Bell customers will be able to watch new weekly NBA content on their smartphones and tablets during both the regular season and in the Playoffs, including player special profiles, rookie features and unique courtside content.

Bell Mobile TV will feature new nightly NBA highlights from approximately 1,300 NBA games starting at the beginning of the regular season and continuing through the NBA Finals.

Bell have also agreed  to be the presenting sponsor of the NBA All-Star Balloting platform in Canada, which gives fans the opportunity to vote daily for their favorite players to become starters for the NBA All-Star Game, and will include a contest for two fans to attend 2014 NBA All-Star inNew Orleans.

“With their strong commitment to basketball, Bell is an ideal partner to help continue the momentum and grow the game in Canada,” said Dan Mackenzie, Vice President and General Manager, NBA Canada. “Through this partnership, we will be able to bring fans more exciting events and programming throughout the season.”

Premier League leaders Arsenal have announced an official partnership with BT Sport.

As part of the deal the Barclays Premier League broadcaster to promote its extensive offering of live football through Arsenal’s digital channels in the UK and Ireland.   

In addition, clinic the agreement will give the broadcaster access to Arsenal’s first team players and manager to create unique and exclusive content to support and enhance BT Sport’s Barclays Premier League coverage.

BT Sport already have a relationship with Arsenal after adding midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to their ambassador ranks.

Vinai Venkatesham, ed Arsenal’s director of Global Partnerships and Business Strategy, said: “We are delighted to welcome BT Sport to the Club as an official partner.  In a short period of time they have delivered numerous innovations in sports broadcasting and we are very much looking forward to developing our relationship further to help provide an extra dimension to their coverage.”

David James, marketing director, BT Consumer said: “We are very pleased to become an official partner of Arsenal Football Club. We have lots of great ideas about how to make this partnership work for the club, BT Sport and our viewers. There is plenty of excitement around Arsenal this season and we are delighted to be part of that.”

{jcomments on}

Brtitish multinational telecommunications company BT has revealed today they will support the British Sledge Hockey Association in helping ritish team’s bid to compete at the Paralympic Games in Sochi next year.

As a long-time supporter of the Paralympic movement in the UK, allergy BT is supporting one of its BT Ambassadors, check Nathan Stephens, tadalafil and his British Sledge Hockey teammates, in their attempt to qualify for the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games.

Nathan competed in the javelin competition at the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games and has been part of the BT Ambassador Programme for four years.

Before becoming one of the most elite Paralympic track and field athletes in the world, Nathan was passionate about sledge hockey and competed with the last GB team to reach the Winter Paralympics in 2006 in Italy.

Nathan and his British Sledge Hockey teammates are now aiming to compete in the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

However, to be invited to the Winter Paralympic Games, they must first compete in a qualifying tournament in Turin later this month and have asked for BT’s help to fund their preparations.

The British team will compete in a six-team tournament in Turin between 20-26 October against Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea and Sweden. The three top-ranked teams at the end of the competition will then be invited to the Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

British Sledge Hockey Association Elite Programme Director, John Neville, said: “BT is a long-time supporter of the Paralympic movement in the UK and supported Nathan with his athletics career. For them to come on board and support the sledge team is another example of their commitment to the progression of disability sport and really shows how far as a sport we have come in a short space time. The support from BT and all our corporate partners such as Planet Ice and Peter Harrison Foundation means that we can travel to Italy and give ourselves the best chance of making it to the Winter Paralympic Games.”

Suzi Williams, Group Marketing and Brand Director at BT said: “Nathan is a great example of someone who continues to strive forward. He had a disappointing London 2012 in the javelin competition but it demonstrates his depth of character than he is bouncing-back with the determination to try and make it to the Winter Games in Sochi. When we heard about the help that the British Sledge Hockey Association needed, we were happy to help”.

BT is supporting the British Sledge Hockey Association with a grant to lessen the funding gap in the team’s preparations and will become an ‘Official Supporter’ to the team.