Vauxhall Motors has inked a renewal to its deal with the Irish Football Association (IFA) retaining its status as Lead Partner to the Northern Ireland national teams.

The sponsorship, herbal which began in January 2011, will now run until July 2018, up to and including the FIFA World Cup Finals in Russia.

Vauxhall Chairman and Managing Director, Duncan Aldred, commented: “The passion that the Northern Ireland fans show at every game is inspirational and was a key factor in our decision to extend the sponsorship.

“We have experienced fantastic levels of brand awareness over the past three years, and look forward to the ongoing relationship with the Irish FA for the extended period as lead partner.

“This partnership is a clear and unequivocal sign of Vauxhall’s long standing commitment to Northern Irish football and will provide support from grassroots up to the elite level.”

Announcing the extension at the Charles Hurst retailer in Lisburn, Irish FA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson said: “The support that we have received from Vauxhall has been phenomenal and has installed a confidence and belief in the national team.

“There is a real optimism surrounding the future of Northern Irish football and we are delighted that Vauxhall will be an integral part of it.

“I look forward to sustaining a prosperous partnership that will inspire Michael O’Neill’s side for the rest of the FIFA World Cup 2014 qualification period and into the UEFA Euro 2016 campaign.”

The International Federation of PGA Tours has reached an agreement with Bridgestone for the auto parts manufacturer to renew its title sponsorship of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club through 2018.

Bridgestone, a world leader in tire innovation and technology, first began sponsoring the Bridgestone Invitational in 2006, and the current title sponsorship agreement runs through 2014. The Bridgestone Invitational is played at the famed Firestone Country Club’s South Course in Akron, Ohio.

Bridgestone also extended its Official Marketing Partner relationship with the PGA TOUR through 2018 and will remain as the “Official Tire of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour.” 

“Golf’s increasing global reach, as well as the international scope of the World Golf Championships align closely with Bridgestone’s long history in the sport and our position as the world’s largest manufacturer of tires and rubber products,” said Maasaki Tsuya, CEO, Bridgestone Corporation. “This sponsorship will further enhance the power of the Bridgestone brand and continue to provide additional worldwide channels for us to grow.”

“Bridgestone has been part of the PGA TOUR and World Golf Championships family since 2006, and we are so pleased to extend what has been such a successful partnership through 2018,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “Coupled with their Official Marketing Partnership extension, Bridgestone represents one of the largest partners within the PGA TOUR family. They utilize the PGA TOUR platform on a global scale, activating in impactful and innovative ways, not only in the United States but across Asia and most notably in Japan. Of course, the Bridgestone Invitational, thanks to the leadership and commitment of Bridgestone, continues to showcase the very best in professional golf to the world.  It also brings tremendous economic and charitable impact to Northeast Ohio, aligning perfectly with Bridgestone’s commitment to the Northeast Ohio community, which has spanned generations and cannot be understated.”

“Our sponsorship of the Bridgestone Invitational is a tremendous vehicle to promote the Bridgestone brand. It also reconfirms our commitment to the PGA TOUR; worldwide golf fans; and our Akron-area neighbors,” said Gary Garfield, CEO and President, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. “As proud corporate citizens, we are thrilled with the impact the Bridgestone Invitational has in the region.”

Tiger Woods capped off this year’s event with a seven shot victory showcasing his return to form.

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Nike have confirmed they have ended their deal with Ryan Braun becoming the second sponsor to do so following his Major League Baseball suspension. 

The Milwaukee Brewers left fielder, who was suspended 65 games for violating MLB’s drug policy, also lost American convenient store chain Kwik Trip Inc and Muscle Milk as endorsements following the scandal.

ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell broke the news of Braun’s contract being terminated and KeJuan Wilkins, a Nike spokesman, confirmed that Braun and Nike no longer have a relationship.

Nike personal endorsees have not been shy of controversy of late as deals with Lance Armstrong (doping violations) and Oscar Pistorius (murder charge) were ended. 

But the sports retail giant did stick by Tiger Woods during his sex scandal in 2009-10.

Braun is currently still sponsored by SURG Restaurant Group and Ottawa, Canada-based SAM BAT.

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Tire Pros has been named the official tire retailer of Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy for the 2013 season. 

The sponsorship, the first for the retail franchise with a sports team, will allow 19 Tire Pros locations in Southern California to engage with soccer fans and build brand awareness. As part of its partnership with the team, California Tire Pros dealers will offer an “Out of this Galaxy Tire Special” retail package, which includes a standard oil change, tire rotation, alignment check and complete safety inspection.

Tire Pros said it was able to engage in the sponsorship through Continental Tire and its extended partnership with Soccer United Marketing. Continental is the official tire of MLS. 

“Tire Pros is honored to work side-by-side with Continental Tire and to use this opportunity to further build the Tire Pros brand in the Southern California. This sponsorship will enable our locally-owned, independent dealers to imbed themselves locally with one of the best – the LA Galaxy,” said Dan Brown, EVP and Tire Pros president. “We’ve had strong presence in the L.A. market for over 20 years so it seemed like a natural fit to develop a relationship with a sports team that is such an important part of the local community.”  

Throughout the 2013 season, Tire Pros will be featured as the official tire retailer through various platforms including radio broadcasts, in-stadium signage, game promotions and more. In addition, Tire Pros customers will have the opportunity to meet LA Galaxy players at five different L.A.-based Tire Pros stores.

The Protein Works have announced a partnership with Everton FC for the new season.

For the first time in the history of The Premier League, Everton entire first team squad will be supplied with bespoke sports nutrition formulas developed by The Protein Works.

Head of Sport Science and Conditioning at Everton, Steve Tashjian said, “The Protein Works are at the forefront of innovation right now in sports nutrition and are able to provide high quality products with bespoke formulations.”

Head of R&D at TPW Nick Smith explains more about the collaboration, “The whole process has been very complex and technically demanding, but credit must be given to Everton’s conditioning team who have demanded excellence. The Club’s motto Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, which means nothing but the best is good enough, was definitely at the forefront of all our minds on this ground-breaking project. To help pioneer a ‘first’ in English football has been amazing.”

Danish brand ECCO has been named the Official Footwear Supplier for the 2013 European Solheim Cup team.

One of the leading global manufacturers of footwear will create special-edition shoes exclusively for the squad’s players and captains.

For this, the fourth Solheim Cup during which ECCO has supported Team Europe, the company will also provide shoes to the defending champions’ caddies and team staff. The competition will be held at Colorado Golf Club outside Denver, August 13-18.

“ECCO has long been a part of the family of sponsors and suppliers that help to make the Solheim Cup one of the world’s most outstanding sporting events,” says Marc Anderman, European Solheim Cup Manager. “All the ladies look forward to receiving the special-edition shoes, which embody the team spirit that will help us retain the Cup.”

“With the supreme levels of talent on both sides of the Atlantic, this competition will likely go down to the wire once again,” says Jesper Thuen, ECCO Global Sponsorship and PR Manager – Golf. “That makes for a compelling spectacle, during which the ECCO Golf collection will be showcased to fans around the world.”

A biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition, the Solheim Cup features the best U.S.-born players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour and the best European members from the Ladies European Tour (LET). Team Europe enters the competition holding the Cup and will need 14 points to retain it, with the U.S. Team requiring 14½ points to regain the coveted Waterford Crystal prize, which was first presented in 1990.

ECCO golf shoes are worn in competition by LPGA and LET Tour stars Belén Mozo, Gerina Piller, Caroline Masson and Line Vedel Hansen. They are also preferred by Fred Couples, Graeme McDowell, Thomas Bjorn, Thongchai Jaidee, Stuart Appleby, Andreas Hartø, JB Hansen.

Pirelli will return to the World Rally Championship next year, having been involved in the series since its inception in 1973.

Pirelli was last represented at the top level of world rallying from 2008-2010, when the company was sole supplier to all the teams. Pirelli also backed the Star Driver scheme and WRC Academy, with the aim of promoting the next generation of young drivers to the top of the sport.

Now the Italian firm – currently exclusive supplier to Formula One – returns in open competition, having been nominated together with three other tyre manufacturers to supply the World Rally Championship from 2014.

Pirelli has a long and illustrious history in rallying both as a single supplier and in open competition, where it also equips several national rally championships. To date, the Milan-based company has racked up 180 world rally championship event wins.

Pirelli’s motorsport director Paul Hembery commented: “We’d like to thank the FIA for looking favourably on our candidature and we’re absolutely delighted to come back to a sport that we feel very much at home in.

“We’re confident in the excellence of our products, and their competitiveness with the latest generation of World Rally Car machinery.

“We’re really looking forward to that challenge and becoming a proactive partner in a championship that is set to go from strength to strength, thanks to increased promotion and a high level of interest from new manufacturers.”

The FIA’s Rally Director Jarmo Mahonen added: “Having Pirelli return to the series is very positive, and together these four brands will provide a great platform for open competition as well as choice and variety for our competitors.

The opening round of the 2014 FIA World Rally Championship, where Pirelli will make its comeback, is the Rallye Monte Carlo from 14-19 January.