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.

ASICS America has announced it has re-signed two-time 60-meter hurdles indoor World Champion Lolo Jones to an endorsement deal.

She is the first woman ever to claim back-to-back World Indoor titles in the 60-meter hurdles while setting an American record in the process. Jones explosive speed and power on the track has earned her a spot as a brakeman on the U.S. national bobsled team, drugs recently winning a gold medal in the mixed team event at the 2013 World Championships. At the 2012 London Olympics, cialis Jones placed fourth in the 100-meter hurdles.

“I’m delighted to extend my relationship with ASICS for both my track and field and bobsledding endeavors,” said Jones. “The quality of ASICS shoes, apparel and accessories is world-class. I feel I’m in excellent hands with ASICS as they share my passion for competition and continuous improvement.”

Looking ahead, Jones intends to return to the track this spring in the 100-meter hurdles and bobsled next fall. Next up on her race schedule is Drake Relays April 24-28, 2013 in her hometown of Des Moines, Iowa.

“Lolo’s ability to triumph and expand her athleticism into a new sport embodies the ASICS spirit of ‘pushing the limits of your comfort zone’,” said ASICS Athlete Manager, Annie Adams. “Lolo is a talented and charismatic ambassador for the ASICS brand. We look forward to supporting her, whether she’s flying over hurdles or racing down the bobsled track.”

The Yeangder Group has revealed that they have extended their sponsorship of Yeangder Tournament Players Championship (TPC) on the Asian Tour for a further three years until 2015, unhealthy organisers announced today.

The Yeangder TPC was successfully launched in 2010 and since then, price it has become one of Chinese Taipei’s top tournaments with worthy champions emerging, including reigning Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, local favourite Lu Wei-chih and last year’s winner Gaganjeet Bhullar of India.

The fourth edition of the Yeangder TPC will be staged from September 12 to 15 with a prize fund of US$500,000 and is poised to attract many of the top Asian Tour stars including Lin Wen-tang, who won his sixth Asian Tour title in the Philippines two week ago.

Emmet Hsu, Chairman of the Yeangder Group, said: “On behalf of Yeangder Group, we are delighted to extend our partnership with the Asian Tour which continues to lead the development of professional golf at the highest level in Asia.

“The Yeangder TPC has enjoyed great success since its inauguration in 2010 and we are delighted to see many young Chinese Taipei players taking advantage of this opportunity to play against the best players in Asia.

“We share the same goals ad the Asian Tour, which is to enhance the standard of golf in the region and across Asia and we hope to foster this relationship and create future champions in the game.

“It is also our vision that our flagship tournament continues to promote Chinese Taipei as a leading golf destination in Asia.”

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han, added: “On behalf of the Asian Tour and our talented players, we are delighted to extend our partnership with Yeangder Group. Emmet Hsu and his team are very committed towards the development of professional golf and their continued sponsorship will continue to enhance and grow the Asian Tour in the years to come.”

“Since the inauguration of the Asian Tour as a players’ organisation in 2004, we have celebrated many wonderful champions from Chinese Taipei including the likes of Lin Keng-chi, Wang Ter-chang, Lu Wen-teh, Lin Wen-tang and Lu Wei-chih.

“It is our belief that we will continue to provide the platform to unearth more champions from Chinese Taipei and across Asia through the staging of the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship, which has become one of the most popular tournaments on our Schedule every year.”