The British Paralympic Association (BPA) has announced it has extended its partnership with adidas, prostate who have signed as Official Partner to the BPA through to the end of 2016. 

As part of the agreement, ailment adidas will bring their experience and expertise to supply high-performance sportswear for ParalympicsGB at the Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The agreement with adidas is the ninth partnership signed by the BPA, demonstrating the appeal of the Paralympic brand in the UK.

adidas were a tier one partner of the London 2012 Paralympic Games as Official Sportswear Partner, and the integrated approach to the Olympic and Paralympic Games that was at the heart of the London 2012 project was reflected in adidas’ marketing strategy. In the build-up to the Games, British Paralympians were represented alongside their Olympic counterparts at the launch of the iconic Team GB and ParalympicsGB kit.

In the last cycle the partnership led to adidas support for Front Line to Start Line, a joint programme between the BPA and Help For Heroes designed to get injured service personnel into sport.

Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the BPA, said: “We have built a really positive relationship with adidas over the years and I am thrilled to announce that they will be part of our Paralympic family as we prepare to send teams to compete in Sochi and Rio. Kit is one of the most important things to get right to ensure athletes can deliver lifetime best performances and we have total confidence that adidas can deliver. They have consistently shown that they have really taken on board what our athletes need to give them the performance edge. British athletes are proud to pull on a ParalympicsGB shirt when they represent their country at the Games, and I am delighted that adidas will continue to be part of this.”

Nick Craggs, adidas UK Brand Director, shared his delight at the announcement. “We are immensely proud to be continuing our successful partnership with the BPA into both Sochi next year and beyond that to Rio in 2016. The unprecedented success of London 2012 provided a huge platform from which to elevate the profile and understanding of Paralympic sport on a Global scale. By continuing our close working relationship with the BPA, we will together aim to continue this unique partnership and deliver this positive momentum through to a new generation.”

BPA partners are adidas, BP, BT, Deloitte, EDF Energy, Hogan Lovells, Mondel?z International, Nissan and Sainsbury’s.

Hyundai Motor America has announced a two-year renewal of it’s title sponsorship of the PGA TOUR’s Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, through the 2014-2015 season.

The upcoming Hyundai Tournament of Champions will be held January 3-6 at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Maui, and will mark the PGA TOUR’s resumption in January following a 1½-month break of the 2013-2014 tournament schedule.

“We are very pleased to have Hyundai continue as title sponsor of the Tournament of Champions, which has played a distinctive role on the PGA TOUR for more than 60 years by inviting only tournament winners from the previous year,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “Hyundai has been very active in promoting the tournament and using it to broaden awareness of its brand and products. We look forward to continuing to work with Hyundai over these next two years to meet its objectives as title sponsor.”

“The Hyundai Tournament of Champions is an ideal platform to share Hyundai’s premium lineup with golf fans around the world,” said Steve Shannon, vice president, Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. “The tournament has continued to grow the past three years with ratings up more than 75 percent in 2013. Not surprisingly, the ratings increase and our involvement with the PGA TOUR has coincided with market share growth of our premium vehicles, Genesis and the flagship Equus. This tournament is a great fit for our brand.”

In addition to Hyundai’s sponsorship, Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) continues its relationship with the tournament, under terms of a 10-year agreement that began in 2010. Serving as the tournament’s title sponsor that first year, SBS had the opportunity to bring Hyundai in as title sponsor in 2011, at which time the tournament’s original “Tournament of Champions” name was reintroduced to highlight the exclusive nature of its field. Originally introduced as the Tournament of Champions in 1953, the limited-field event maintained the “T of C” identity in its title until 1994.

A broadcasting partner of the PGA TOUR for nearly 20 years, SBS also will continue to televise PGA TOUR tournaments in Korea through 2019.

The Tournament of Champions was first played in 1953 at Las Vegas’ Desert Inn Country Club, and remained there until 1967, when it moved to Stardust Country Club. The “T of C” then moved to La Costa Country Club in Carlsbad, CA in 1969, where it remained until moving to Kapalua in 1999.

The Valspar Corporation, asthma a global leader in the paint and coatings industry, has become the title sponsor of the Tampa Bay area’s professional golf tournament on the PGA TOUR in a four-year deal.

Named the Valspar Championship, the tournament will be contested March 13-16, 2014 on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla. The Valspar Championship will be the third of four straight tournament weeks in Florida.

In addition to the sponsorship, Valspar will join the PGA TOUR’s Official Marketing Partner program and receive the exclusive designation as “Official Paint Supplier of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour.”

The PGA TOUR and the tournament’s host organization, Copperhead Charities, also announced that BB&T Corporation, a leading financial services holding company headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., has signed a four-year agreement to become the tournament’s local presenting sponsor.

“We are very pleased to announce these multi-year agreements and look forward to working closely with The Copperheads to help Valspar become fully integrated with the tournament as the title sponsor and BB&T as local presenting sponsor,” said Andy Pazder, Chief of Operations for the PGA TOUR.

“Valspar is pleased to become title sponsor of a classic tournament that will provide a unique platform to connect our brand with the PGA TOUR, which consistently produces some of the most exciting and memorable golf tournaments in the world,” said Gary Hendrickson, Valspar’s Chairman and CEO. “Partnering with the PGA TOUR and Copperhead Charities, we are proud to be doing our part to generate significant support for charitable causes important to Valspar. The timing of the event couldn’t be better as we look forward to kicking off the unofficial start of painting season.”

BB&T, with financial centers in 12 states and Washington, D.C., is looking to strengthen its visibility and position in the Tampa Bay and Gulf Coast regions through the tournament.

BB&T is also the local presenting sponsor of the Wyndham Championship PGA TOUR event in Greensboro, N.C.

“This is a premier tournament at a world-class facility and BB&T is delighted to enter into this partnership which helps local organizations that benefit from Copperhead Charities,” said Ken Coppedge, BB&T West Florida Region President. “BB&T is committed to help keep this event in the Tampa Bay area.”

The Ladies Players Golf Association (LPGA) has announced the addition of Acer, apoplectic | a world-leading information and communication technology company as one of its marketing partners.

Acer, which is ranked No. 2 for notebooks globally, will have brand activation and advertising opportunities at 12 LPGA events in 2013 and will build on their already sound presence in women’s golf. Earlier this season, Acer signed on as the presenting sponsor for this year’s ShopRite LPGA Classic, which was held in May outside Atlantic City, NJ and won by LPGA and World Golf Halls of Famer Karrie Webb.

“Acer seeks opportunities to connect with our target customers around the world and one of the most engaging ways to achieve this is through sports,” said Kim Phipps, director, Global Marketing and Brand for Acer.” The LPGA is truly international with events and broadcasts reaching millions of golf fans in many countries where Acer is present, making the relationship a natural fit.”

The company has also provided direct support of the world’s best golfers on a personal level. Acer named Taiwanese superstar and former world No. 1 Yani Tseng as its Global Brand Ambassador in 2012. Acer has a long history in junior golf that began in 2002 when Acer partnered with the Taiwan Golf Association to create the Acer Golf Program for junior players.

“Acer has been a great supporter of women’s golf and we are pleased to welcome them to the LPGA family,” said Jon Podany, LPGA Chief Marketing Officer. “We appreciate their support of Yani Tseng and we were excited to have them as a presenting sponsor at this year’s ShopRite LPGA Classic. It’s great to see them build on that with an expanded partnership with the LPGA. They are the kind of global brand that is a terrific fit with Golf’s Global Tour.”

Irish online betting and social networking company BragBet has become the official betting partner to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the Irish national football team.

Commenting about the deal, site BragBet CEO, order Phil Riordan said; “We are absolutely delighted to sign this deal with the FAI and become the official betting sponsors of the Irish national team. As someone who has a background in football, I am delighted to see that this deal will help the growth of football across the country. This is an exciting time for BragBet and for the game in Ireland. Hopefully, our work together will promote the Boys in Green and generate more interest in the Irish game. We are really looking forward to announcing a grassroots initiative together to put money back into clubs throughout Ireland in the coming weeks.”

Making the announcement, FAI CEO John Delaney said: “I would like to welcome BragBet as official betting partner of the FAI. The partnership will give us a great platform for further promotion of the game and will provide funding to support the work that we are doing on many levels to grow Irish football.”

BragBet, a dynamic entrant to the social media marketplace, is backed by Telefonica, amongst others. 

Circuit of The Americas has announced a new partnership with Shell to ignite excitement around the 2013 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix by offering Austin Fan Fest fueled by Shell, impotent an interactive, remedy four-day festival presented free to the public Nov. 14-17.

The lively street festival, now in its second year, will feature an expanded footprint encompassing most of downtown Austin’s renowned Warehouse and 2nd Street entertainment districts.

“We enjoyed a remarkable response to our inaugural Austin Fan Fest last November with 220,000 guests attending over three days and look forward to building on that foundation this year with the help of our new presenting sponsor, Shell,” Circuit of The Americas President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Sexton said.

“We’re creating a larger festival footprint this year with more diverse activities and entertainment options, and we’re opening one day earlier to accommodate arriving race fans. Whether you’re a racing enthusiast, casual sports fan, music lover—or just looking for an interesting way to experience the Austin entertainment scene—Austin Fan Fest fueled by Shell will appeal to you. A key focus will again be live music, with six stages scattered throughout the festival area, as well as a number of interactive fan-engagement zones and lots of activities for race fans and families.”

“Shell has competed in Formula 1 for years; and Austin Fan Fest is a way of connecting people, passion and performance around Formula 1’s spectacular, cutting edge innovations,” said Shell Oil Company President Marvin Odum. “We’re about better, more efficient, ever cleaner fuels and lubricants for our customers. There are few better places to show that off than at a Grand Prix in our own back yard.”

SKINS Compression, healing a gradient compression sportswear brand, view has forged a partnership with Kevin Collington, the reigning Ironman 70.3 US Pro Champion.

Under the new deal, SKINS will support Collington through the Ironman 70.3 World Championships held on Sunday 8 September in Henderson, Nevada, and beyond.

SKINS will provide the decorated triathlete ‘with the latest technology-driven compression garments known to best support proper muscle function, help prevent injury and aid in active recovery during the most extreme physical conditions.’

This latest sponsor deal follows another long-course-athlete-alliance, confirmed back in February this year, with reigning Ironman World Champion and Ironman 70.3 World Champ Leanda Cave.

“As an extreme athlete who competes frequently, I have to perform at my very best while training day in and day out,” said Kevin Collington, professional triathlete and SKINS ambassador. “And optimal recovery is the key to putting my best on the line.”

He added, “For this reason, I have been looking to SKINS in preparation for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships – the brand’s revolutionary compression and recovery wear has allowed my body to push its limits without injury and be competitive with the world’s best athletes.”

“We are thrilled to join forces with Kevin not only because of his reputation as one of the best triathletes in the sport, but because his passion, dedication and relentless approach to performance truly align with our brand,” said Johnny West, General Manager of SKINS North America.

“Leading into the 70.3 World Championships this weekend, we will be cheering for Kevin, who is predicted to be a leader in the competition. It truly gives us at SKINS the utmost satisfaction when we can support such a top-notch athlete through the products we engineer.”