With the BBL Play Off Final due to take place in front of a sell out crowd at Wembley Arena this Sunday, the British Basketball League has announced Spalding have signed a deal to be the official apparel provider to the BBL for the next five years. 

This exciting long-term commitment will begin at the start of the 2013-14 season when, all BBL clubs will play in Spalding apparel. 

BBL Chairman Paul Blake underlined the significance of the arrangement by explaining, 

“This kind of extensive deal with an established company like Spalding is just the latest in a long line of exciting developments for BBL and one more reason to be satisfied that we continue to move in the right direction – and with real purpose. 

“With like for like ticket sales across the league now up by around 20% on last season and set against the backdrop of that fantastic turnout of 7,500 at the BBL Cup Final a couple of months ago, it perpetuates the momentum we now have behind us and continues the upward trend of sustainable growth as a league.” 

He added, “Having all of our member clubs playing in Spalding apparel will re-enforce that professional edge and visually exude the uniformity and collective desire of the clubs and the league to continue developing and enhancing our product for fans.” 

Meanwhile BBL Commercial Director, David Leyden Dunbar, added: “For over 130 years, Spalding has been a leader in innovation and quality, a brand synonymous with basketball. 

“We are thrilled to be entering into this long term partnership with a global brand who have clearly demonstrated their commitment to the league and share our plans for the future. 

“Since taking up the post during October of last year, my intention has always been to significantly alter the commercial landscape of the BBL and I’m pleased to confirm that our new partnership with Spalding is just the first in a series of announcements that we’ll be making as momentum builds towards the start of the new season in September.” 

Paul Sherratt is Spalding Country Manager for UK & Ireland and was just as pleased with the deal and added, “We are delighted in announcing another step towards increased brand penetration within the UK basketball marketplace for Spalding and for the BBL to join our extensive roster of leagues and teams around Europe wearing our apparel.”

Ladies European Tour (LET) golfer, anesthetist Katy McNicol has secured a new sponsor with golf clothing brand, Royal & Awesome, joining for the 2013 season.

The 25 year old has already represented Royal & Awesome on the LET at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Agadir, Morocco and in last week’s South African Women’s Open, where she tied for 16th place. 

McNicol narrowly missed out on a full Ladies European Tour card for 2013 by just two strokes after making the cut in 11 of 13 tournaments last season including two top-five finishes and three places in the top-ten.

McNicol said: “This has been a great start to the season. I cannot put into words how excited I have been to tee it up in Morocco and South Africa – with the chance to play with some of the top professionals in golf at the moment, with most of them challenging for a spot in the Solheim Cup in August.

“I look forward to having even more fun on the tour, sporting my new dazzling ‘awesome’ clothing, and hope that it will give me that extra edge.”

The news follows the announcement earlier in the year of the brand’s sponsorship of 22-year old LPGA tour professional Kayla Mortellaro and Laura Kueny from the Symetra Tour, the LPGA’s official developmental tour.

Royal & Awesome brand director, Graeme Smeaton, said: “As a very proud Scottish brand, we are delighted to bring a home-grown Scottish professional into the Royal & Awesome ranks for the 2013 season. We hope that Katy’s talent and her new ‘awesome’ clothing range will dazzle competitors and spectators alike.”

e-Swisher has reached an agreement to extend their partnership with The Motorsports Group (TMG) to be primary sponsor of the No. 40 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Reed Sorenson in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, beginning with the Memorial Day weekend event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25.

“I’m thrilled to have e-Swisher expand their partnership with us,” said Sorenson. “Our team at TMG is young, but we’re growing and headed in the right direction. e-Swisher’s continued participation speaks volumes about the job we’re doing. I’m confident that we can do a great job of representing them and I really appreciate this opportunity.”

e-Swisher previously partnered with TMG and Sorenson at the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway.

“Everyone at Swisher is excited to continue our partnership with Reed and TMG’s No. 40 Camaro,” said Ed Denk, marketing director for Swisher International. “Reed has demonstrated, both on and off the track, his ability to represent the e-Swisher brand extremely well and we are looking forward to enjoying some great runs.”

“This is a big win for us,” said Curtis Key, owner of TMG. “We’re a growing team and having e-Swisher come on board for these races means a great deal. I’m looking forward to seeing their colors on our car.”

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) announced that Citi will continue its support of Team USA as the official bank partner of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams through 2016.

To mark its 200 anniversary, order Citi was an official sponsor of Team USA in 2012 for the first time in the company’s history.

As part of its sponsorship, prostate Citi executed the largest, pills most integrated national advertising and marketing campaign for a U.S. sponsorship in the company’s history. The campaign, which featured 13 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic members of Team Citi — a mix of qualifiers, hopefuls and legends — included broadcast, print, out-of-home, digital, events, promotions and retail activation. Citi earned “Cause-Related Campaign of the Year” for the Every Step of the Way campaign at PR Week’s annual awards.

“We are excited to continue our support of Team USA through the 2016 Games in Brazil,” said Citi CEO Michael Corbat. “Our first-ever USOC sponsorship last year proved to be a meaningful platform to engage colleagues while showcasing our innovative banking products to clients and consumers. Supporting our U.S. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls on their journey from ambition to achievement captures how we aspire to help our clients reach their goals and we are proud to be a part of the Olympic Movement.”

“We are proud to announce our continued partnership with Citi through 2016,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. “Citi continues to demonstrate a deep commitment to supporting the inspiring journeys of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes, journeys that wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our loyal sponsors. We were thrilled to see Citi celebrate its 200^th anniversary last year during the 2012 Games, and we look forward to Citi launching its third century in partnership with the 2014 and 2016 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams.”

Chinese sportswear company, health Li Ning has announced announced a new partnership with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

The sponsorship deal, which runs from 2013 to 2016 inclusive, begins with this year’s Sudirman Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and extend to the annual BWF World Championships – the next of which takes place in Guangzhou, China, in August – and the biennial Thomas & Uber Cup tournaments.

Li Ning shuttlecocks and court mats will be used exclusively at all Major Events as part of the deal.

It’s the first time the world-governing organisation has negotiated global sponsorships for its Major Events and to have secured “these collective long-term agreements is a significant achievement”, said BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund, explaining that previously hosts were given the right to secure sponsors in their domestic markets for whichever Major Event they were hosting.

“BWF is pleased to partner with Li Ning in showcasing some of badminton’s premier tournaments with these seven Major Events throughout the four years from 2013-2016. These events are some of the most prestigious competitions in our sport and for any individual or country to win them is traditionally and undoubtedly a moment of great pride and honour,” noted Lund.

“Badminton’s steady rise on the international sports landscape has been impressive and it’s clearly enjoying considerable popularity now. BWF events are currently televised in more than 160 countries and that number is constantly increasing. The Major Events are an attractive prospect for Li Ning in terms of global brand visibility and recognition, especially as these are the tournaments in which more countries compete and therefore their nations have an interest,” noted Li Ning’s General Manager of Li Ning Indoor Sports,  Mr. Hong YuRu.

Honda announced today that it is making a major commitment to the 2013 running of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, as both a sponsor and race participant, with plans to field products in nine race classes, a first for any OEM in a single Pikes Peak event.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. will serve as the Partnering Sponsor for the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the first time the company has participated as a corporate sponsor of the legendary race event. The 91^st running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is scheduled for June 30, 2013 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“Pikes Peak presents us with a unique opportunity to showcase Honda’s diverse product lineup and to energize Honda fans around world, as we work to further strengthen Honda’s presence in racing at all levels,” said Mike Accavitti , Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations for American Honda. “Our associates will be working hard between now and Race Day to prepare this diverse field of race vehicles and showcase the Honda racing spirit.”

With support from Honda’s North American R&D and motorsports companies – Honda R&D Americas, Inc. and Honda Performance Development, Inc. – the company will campaign a broad range of Honda and Acura vehicles, as well as Honda motorcycles and ATVs. Honda will showcase its diverse range of fun-to-drive/ride products and will field 10 products in nine race classes, the most ever for a single race participant.

Along with Honda IndyCar team Schmidt Hamilton HP Motorsports pilot Simon Pagenaud, the vehicles will be developed and piloted by Honda’s North American associates, under the banners of Honda Performance Development (HPD) and Team-Honda Research (THR). Pagenaud’s Pikes Peak vehicle entry and racing class will be announced at a later date.

As a further extension of Honda’s sponsorship effort, Honda Power Equipment will be supporting race operations, with Honda generators providing electricity and light to the pits and staging area.