USA Cycling, the national governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, has revealed a partnership with Strava, the social fitness application for dedicated athletes, that provides a richer membership and training experience for USA Cycling members.

“USA Cycling is at the heart of competitive cycling in the U.S., so the link with Strava is a natural fit,” says USA Cycling President & CEO Steve Johnson. “We’re very excited about this new partnership, as Strava brings a new dimension to our sport by enabling cyclists across any discipline to track their performance and share accomplishments with friends. Ultimately, bringing USA Cycling members together in the Strava community is a great way to grow bicycle racing.”

Strava allows users to track their rides, analyze their stats, and compare their performance against friends, locals and pros. An upgrade to Strava Premium provides even deeper analytics, like advanced power training and heart rate analysis, and even more motivational features like performance goals and filtered leaderboards.

“We’re really happy to be working with USA Cycling in order to connect athletes and help them become more informed about their training and racing,” says Jordan Kobert, vice president of business development at Strava. “It’s our hope that Strava can provide even more training intelligence, motivation, and fun to USA Cycling members.”

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced that Specsavers will sponsor the match officials for the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour to Hong Kong and Australia, generic which kicks off on June 1.

As part of the arrangement, patient the officials will wear Specsavers-branded kit for each of the tour matches, including the three Tests between the Lions and Australia.

IRB Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: “This is good news for Rugby and shows the healthy state the sport is in as regards attracting top-class commercial partners.”

“Specsavers has a proven track record within the sports sector and we are looking forward to working closely with them.”

Specsavers chairman and former Llanelli second row Doug Perkins said: “Good eyesight is clearly very important in competitive sport. While there continues to be exciting technological innovations to aid referees, we will always rely on their personal judgement too. At Specsavers we’re glad to do our bit where we can to help ensure that they get the best possible support to do their job.”

Specsavers will be supporting the tour, which runs from June 1 to July 6, with sponsorship of the referees running in conjunction with a typically innovative advertising campaign across television, internet and social media.

In addition to the Lions match officials, Specsavers is building on its existing portfolio of sporting sponsorships that includes the Scottish Football Association match officials, RaboDirect PRO12 league and women’s GAA in Ireland.

Great Clips, remedy the world’s largest salon brand, will become title sponsor of the practice day at the 2013 Toyota/Save Mart 350 Sprint Cup Series event.

Sonoma Raceway will kick off NASCAR’s dynamic new two-day qualifying format with “Great Clips Fast Friday” on June 21, as NASCAR and the raceway unveil an exciting new NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying concept for Northern California race fans. This final timed practice session on Great Clips Fast Friday will lock in groups for final qualifying on Saturday morning.

“We’re looking forward to this partnership with Sonoma Raceway and helping support a great event for not only race fans, but for the Sonoma-area community as well,” said Jessica Jimoh, associate marketing manager for Great Clips. “Great Clips has been an active sponsor of motorsports for more than 10 years and with more than 100 Great Clips salons in the Northern California area, this was a natural extension for us.”

In addition to becoming title sponsor of Fast Friday, Great Clips continues as the Official Hair Salon of Sonoma Raceway for the second consecutive year. Great Clips will also set up a mobile salon at the raceway during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and IZOD IndyCar Series event weekends. Stylists from local salons will give haircuts for a suggested donation of just $10, with proceeds benefiting Speedway Children’s Charities, the charitable arm of Sonoma Raceway.

“Great Clips is a terrific brand with a young, active customer base,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Sonoma Raceway. “They are a perfect fit for this dynamic new feature of our race weekend and we look forward to working with them to help promote it.”

The one-year agreement also includes hospitality, signage and other assets during race weekend. Great Clips will also receive the right to use the Sonoma Raceway name and logo for promotional purposes.

The Matchplay Championship, Uk’s biggest amateur golf event, has been renamed the Golf Care Matchplay Championship after Golf Care, the UK’s #1 specialist golf insurance brand, became its new title sponsor.

The inaugural Golf Care Matchplay Championship will culminate next month with a Dubai Grand Final and looks set to be the best in tournament history, with competitors staying in the stunning 5-star JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Hotel and competing over the world-renowned championship course at The Els Club. The partnership will be a natural fit between the UK’s leading golf insurer and the country’s biggest golf event.

“We’re delighted to announce this partnership between two brands that share the ethos of delivering first-class customer service and unbeatable value for money. Golf Care and the Matchplay Championship both celebrate their tenth anniversary this year, so this is a partnership that makes perfect sense in what is a special year for both brands!” noted Colin Whitehead, Event Organiser, Golf Care Matchplay Championship. “We work extensively to deliver value to our partners and have shared mutually beneficial relationships with the likes of Marriott for the last six years, as well as The Els Club for three years. We look forward to a similar long-term affiliation with our new title sponsor, Golf Care.”

Golf Care has seen tremendous growth over the last ten years, as more and more golfers are realising the importance of being appropriately protected against any eventuality on the golf course. The brand is represented by 3-time Ryder Cup Captain Bernard Gallacher and having played in 8 Ryder Cup matches, Gallacher is ideally positioned to offer advice on a match play tournament.

“This is great news; I’m thrilled that Golf Care has decided to back such a fantastic event. It’s a unique tournament that welcomes players of all ability and any event that encourages people to get out and play competitive golf can only be a good thing for our sport,” commented Golf Care ambassador, Bernard Gallacher. “I’ve had some of the most memorable moments of my career in match play competition, especially during the Ryder Cup, so I’m looking forward to watching the action unfold later this year. It’s a phenomenal prize for just a £30 entry fee, regardless of what standard you play at.”

The PGA TOUR announced today through NEC Latin America that NEC Corporation is expanding its presence on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica beyond its current tournament sponsorship by becoming the umbrella sponsor of the entire 15-event Tour.

The sponsorship takes effect immediately and features a renaming of the Tour to NEC Series – PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. NEC is currently the title sponsor of the Roberto De Vicenzo Invitational being played this week at the Club de Golf Uruguay.

As part of the agreement, sale NEC will receive branding in the Tour logo as well as on-site at tournaments and on-line. The company also may host important business clients at PGA TOUR Latinoamérica events.

“We are extremely pleased to announce this landmark sponsorship for the Tour and to welcome NEC as an umbrella sponsor of PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, order ” said Jack Warfield, discount President of NEC Series – PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. “We look forward to working with our partners at NEC to maximize its presence on the Tour as we continue to build the PGA TOUR’s presence throughout Latin America.”

NEC sponsored the PGA TOUR’s World Series of Golf at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio for 15 years, through 1998, and then continued its sponsorship of the tournament for seven more years after it transformed into a World Golf Championships event.

“We are very excited to reinforce our presence with the PGA TOUR through PGA TOUR Latinoamérica,” said Carlos Martinangeli, COO& Senior Vice President of NEC Latin America. “As a former World Golf Championships sponsor, NEC well understands the importance and effectiveness of sponsorship for golf tournaments. The NEC Series – PGA TOUR Latinoamérica will expand NEC’s presence in Latin America and beyond.”

MotoGP commercial rights holder Dorna Sports SL has announced that Spanish brewery Estrella Galicia will be the official provider of non-alcoholic beer for the 2013 World Championship.

Following to this agreement, denture the Estrella Galicia 0, ampoule 0 beer will be sold at the four Spanish GPs taking place this year, with the rounds in Jerez, Catalunya, Aragón and Valencia serving the beer at its regular outlets. Furthermore, in Jerez, Catalunya and Valencia, Estrella Galicia 0,0 will supply a special hospitality.

This beer has a strong affiliation with the MotoGP series, featuring on riders’ leathers throughout two different classes with the likes Dani Pedrosa and Marc Márquez in MotoGP, Alex Rins, leader in the Moto3™ World Championship, as well as his teammate Alex Márquez, endorsing the drink.

Antonio Castelo, Managing Director of Hijos de Rivera said: “This agreement is another step forward in Estrella Galicia 0,0’s commitment within the world of motorcycle racing. We’re the official beer of the Spanish Grand Prix and we are very proud that the results of each race will be toasted in the paddock with our beer.”

Pau Serracanta, Managing Director of Dorna’s Commercial Area, comments: “We are very pleased with this agreement with Estrella Galicia 0,0, which further strengthens its commitment to MotoGP with fans able to enjoy its beverage at all four races taking place in Spain this year. The growth of the Estrella Galicia 0,0 brand within the premier-class racing series over the past years is clear to see, and thanks to its commitment as an official supplier to MotoGP it will expand its image to both the national and international market.”

Famous Brands Limited has revealed a two-year sponsorship of South Africa Men’s Hockey Team.

One of its premium brands Mugg & Bean is partnering with SA Hockey as the new co-sponsor of the SA Men’s Hockey team.

“We are delighted that we have a popular brand like Mugg & Bean on board, troche ” said SA Hockey Association CEO Marissa Langeni.

“We are pleased that this is a two-year commitment which will include the World Cup in 2014. This sponsorship will assist the SA Men’s team in competing in top-class international events and hockey is proud to be associated with the Mugg & Bean brand, arthritis ” the SA Hockey CEO added.

Famous Brands Chief Marketing Officer Derrian Nadauld stated: “This sponsorship deal will bring a new energy to the game and the Mugg & Bean brand is excited to be involved with the National Men’s team.

“Hockey in South Africa has largely been a Cinderella sport, adiposity in desperate need of a sponsor who could give the team the support they so richly deserve. The Mugg & Bean sponsorship of the SA Men’s team is a natural extension of the brands involvement with the sport of Hockey.

“Earlier this year, the brand concluded a five-year sponsorship deal of the Varsity Sports Hockey series, currently running across universities across the country,” the Famous Brands CMO added.

The SA Men’s team are currently ranked 12th in the world and this is the first sponsorship for the team in a number of years.

HP Byron Nelson Championship officials and MosquitoNix announced today that MosquitoNix, the nation’s leader in mosquito control and mosquito misting systems, will be the official mosquito control provider of the 2013 HP Byron Nelson Championship.

MosquitoNix will provide players, golf fans and volunteers with mosquito-controlled environments around the hospitality areas on the 14^th, 16^th, 17^th and 18^th holes, as well as the Championship Way entrance and the Pavilion. During the 2013 Nelson, each of these areas will receive periodic QuickNix treatments. QuickNix is MosquitoNix’s three-step program that includes fogging, granules and larvicide applications.

“MosquitoNix’s 2013 Nelson sponsorship allows us to present a fun and nuisance-free mosquito-controlled environment for the players, golf fans and volunteers during the Championship week,” said Dan O’Neal, chairman & CEO of FEMO Group Franchise System, MosquitoNix’s parent company. “Providing a fun and bug free outdoor experience is what MosquitoNix is all about. We are proud that our brand is trusted by Salesmanship Club officials to keep their tournament mosquito free.”

Golf fans are encouraged to visit MosquitoNix kiosks during the Championship week, to learn more about mosquito control and MosquitoNix services, and get a pair of promotional sunglasses.

“We share a passion for fun outdoor experiences with MosquitoNix,” said Jon Drago, tournament director. “This sponsorship allows players, golf fans and our volunteers to experience the tournament without worrying about mosquitoes.”

The 2013 HP Byron Nelson Championship will be played May 13-19 at the TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.