AMA Pro Racing and the Army National Guard have extended their partnership through the 2013 season.

The agreement marks the fifth consecutive year that the Army National Guard will hold exclusive category rights as the Official Department of Defense Branch of GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing and title sponsor of the Series’ premier class, look AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike.

“We are extremely proud of our relationship with the Army National Guard, discount ” said Michael Gentry, capsule Chief Operating Officer of AMA Pro Racing. “The combination of our strong American brands gives AMA Pro Racing and our competitors the opportunity to proudly represent the red, white and blue and show our support for the men and women that serve our country. For that, we are very thankful.”

From many standpoints, the partnership between the Army National Guard and AMA Pro Racing has been successful and endearing for both sides. Dating back to 2009, the two have maintained a steady increase in marketing and promotional activations in and around GEICO Motorcycle AMA Pro Road Racing events. Race fans in attendance are continuously exposed to the intense on-track action of motorcycle road racing alongside engaging outreach and recruitment efforts from the Army National Guard.

V8 Supercars has renewed its deal with Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) until 2015.

Coca-Cola Amatil will continue its sponsorship of the V8 Supercars Championship and V8 Supercars promoted events for the next three years, cheao cheap continuing the partnership that began in 2010.

The beverage-giant will supply its market leading brands for the anticipated 1.8 million fans that walk through the gates at Championship events in Australia.

Interest in this year’s Championship is at an all-time high with foundation marques Ford and Holden being joined on the grid by the Japanese Nissan stable and Germany’s AMG Mercedes. More new marques are anticipated in coming years.

V8 Supercars’ Director of Commercial and Marketing John Dunlop said the ongoing partnership between CCA and V8 Supercars was another measure that V8 Supercars is growing on a national and international scale.

“Having Coca-Cola Amatil on-board with the V8 Supercars Championship recognises that as a sport, we are expanding and, as we head in to our next chapter, brands want to be a part of the next exciting phase,” Mr Dunlop said.

The successful three year partnership will continue with Coca-Cola’s vast beverage range serving the large on-track audience, along with major flow-on benefits and exposure.

“Coca-Cola Amatil has an extensive beverage range, offering our on-track audience variety and quality products that are recognised worldwide,” Mr Dunlop said.

“They, along with our extensive portfolio of sponsors, are a terrific partner of the sport, and able to leverage their extensive suite on and off track.

“This year we embark into the next era of V8 Supercars and high class sponsors, like Coca-Cola Amatil, are getting on board to be a part of the next phase of V8 Supercars.”

Tanya Carroll, National Sponsorship & Asset Manager Coca-Cola Amatil said: “We are thrilled to announce our continued partnership with the V8 Supercars.  We look forward to the next three years of working together as the Official Soft Drink of the V8 Supercar Championship.”

Coca-Cola Amatil has exclusive pourage rights at V8 Supercars’ promoted events: Tasmania 360, Sucrogen Townsville 400, Coates Hire Ipswich 360, Sandown 500, Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, Armor All Gold Coast 600, Phillip Island 400 and the Sydney 500.

The St Louis Cardinals have announced they have signed a multi-year agreement with Mercy Health of St. Louis that makes Mercy the official medical provider for the organization.

As a part of this arrangement, Mercy will cover the Cardinals’ orthopedic and sports-medicine needs.

Mercy, which is one of Missouri’s largest employers, already provides the team physicians for the club’s Double-A affiliate in Springfield.

The Cardinals will retain several members of their previous medical staff, including team physician Dr. George Paletta, who has worked with the Cardinals for the last 15 years. Lyndon Gross will return for his seventh season as the team’s orthopedic surgeon.

During Tuesday’s press conference, it was also announced that Mercy Clinic Sports Medicine specialist Dr. Brian Mahaffey and internist Dr. Jason Hand will serve on the Cardinals’ care team.

Badminton New Zealand has announced a new partnership with X-TRM, discount a badminton racket equipment, shuttle and apparel provider, based in Taiwan.

X-TRM will become the Official Shuttle Supplier for BNZ hosted events (International, National, North & South Island events) in 2013 as well as the Official Equipment and Apparel supplier for the SKYCITY New Zealand Open in April which includes court mats, shuttles and official event clothing.

X-TRM Sporting Goods of Taiwan (part of Giant Goal Group) with factories in Shenzhen and Chongqing is the manufacturer of X-TRM brand which includes a full range of badminton products. X-TRM has been an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) for many well-known brands over the past 30 years.

Hunter Jaw, General Manager of X-TRM Taiwan says “X-TRM is very privileged to be the exclusive Equipment, Shuttlecock and Apparel sponsor of the SKYCITY New Zealand Open for 2013 and years to come. Our company prides ourselves to be [a] top quality, innovative and fashionable manufacturer and we like to sponsor and support up and coming young national talents in badminton around the world”.

X-TRM currently sponsors New Zealand’s top men’s singles player Joe Wu; Joe is also X-TRM’s New Zealand Ambassador.

Julie Carrel, the Event Director of the SKYCITY New Zealand Open said: “It is great to have a new brand like X-TRM come on-board as they bring new products, fresh ideas and a willingness to work with us to grow the sport here in New Zealand.  Being able to align the New Zealand Open and our key events with the same brand is a first for us and offers a number of opportunities in the future.   Having two new sponsors on board for the New Zealand Open – SKYCITY and X-TRM – will give this event a totally new look and feel which is very exciting for everyone.”

Turkish Airlines Euroleague, Europe’s top basketball competition, has agreed a significant partnership with viagogo, the world’s largest ticket marketplace, to give fans a secure platform on which to buy and sell tickets for the season and the 2013 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in London.

Euroleague which last year attracted more than 14.000 spectators to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four matches in Istanbul has, for the first time, joined the growing number of sports and entertainment properties across Europe that have partnered with viagogo to take control of the secondary market for their tickets and protect their fans from fraud and the black market while primary market tickets are still available through the competition’s official ticketing website, www.f4tickets.com. 

As the Euroleague’s official ticket marketplace, viagogo will give fans access to a choice of tickets to buy, as well as the flexibility to resell tickets they cannot use on a secure platform. The partnership also allows Euroleague fans from all over the world to buy tickets to Europe’s most important basketball tournament through viagogo’s 28 local language websites. All tickets are protected by the viagogo guarantee, so buyers can be confident that their money is safe as sellers are not paid until buyers have attended the event. 

To address concerns about the physical security of fans at the games, customers using the official ticket marketplace will be required to stipulate which team they support. viagogo will then monitor transactions to ensure fans purchase tickets in the area designated for their team. 

Mr. Jordi Bertomeu, Euroleague Basketball President and CEO said: “Our fans’ safety, both online and at matches, is our chief concern. Thanks to viagogo’s ticket expertise and secure marketplace, we can combat the black market and protect fans from fraud, whilst ensuring that security issues don’t spoil the fantastic atmosphere at Euroleague matches.” 

viagogo spokesperson Ed Parkinson said: “We are proud to be partnering with Euroleague, the most prestigious basketball tournament in Europe. We will be working closely with the organisers to ensure fans have the best access to tickets, the flexibility to resell tickets they can’t use and absolute security, both when buying their tickets and in the stadium.” 

2013 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four will take place at “The O2” in London from 10th – 12th May.

China’s Hebei Tinsue Floor Technology Co., Ltd has been announced as the Official Sports Floor Supplier to the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Table Tennis event.

In addition, to show their commitment to the development of Table Tennis globally, Tinsue will support the Continents with Marketing agreements with the ITTF, providing Sports flooring to the African, North American, Latin American and Oceania events for 2013 and 2014.

Tinsue, which in 2010 became the first Chinese Sports flooring company to sponsor International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) events, was also the Official Sports Floor Supplier at the recently concluded 2012 London Olympic Games Table Tennis event.

“Tinsue is a relatively new player in providing Sports Flooring Sponsorship to the ITTF but are fast becoming one of our key partners”, remarked Steve Dainton, ITTF Marketing Director. “It is with great pleasure that we announce Tinsue as sponsor of the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, namely – Official Sports Floor Supplier to the Table Tennis event. After an extremely successful 2012 London Olympic Games where both Tinsue and the ITTF built on their relationship we were very confident that by choosing Tinsue, a Chinese company, for an Olympic event in China, that the event will also be a true success.”

“As well, we are pleased to announce that Tinsue will support for 2 more years the Continents with Marketing agreements with the ITTF, providing Sports flooring to the African, North American, Latin American and Oceania events for 2013 and 2014, which shows to prove they are true supporters of table tennis.”

Adham Sharara, ITTF President also added that “the ITTF is extremely pleased with Tinsue’s continuous support of ITTF events. The brand “TINSUE” has become synonymous with top quality sports flooring, and of course as the table tennis Olympic sports floor. The agreement for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games further strengthens the relationship between Tinsue and the ITTF, and will provide to the young athletes taking part in the YOG in Nanjing a top quality sports floor for peak performance.”

Louis Garneau and Cycling Canada have confirmed the renewal of their partnership.

Under the new deal, unhealthy Louis Garneau is the Official Cycling Apparel Sponsor of Cycling Canada for an additional four-year term, capsule and subsequently the cycling apparel provider for the Canadian Cycling Teams at the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, order Brazil.

Louis Garneau has outfitted the Canadian Cycling Teams in performance apparel since 1984 (the year Louis himself participated in the Los Angeles Games). Louis Garneau will continue to supply the teams with leading, technologically advanced apparel for optimal performances. Louis Garneau is known for its high performance apparel that outfits some of the top riders and athletes in the world.

The Louis Garneau logo will be prominently featured on the Canadian Cycling Teams uniforms in international races every year.

“Our role in the future of Canadian cycling is an essential component of our company’s DNA,” said company President and Founder Louis Garneau. “From a historical perspective, the relationship between my company and Cycling Canada stems back to my participation in the 1984 Olympic Games and my son’s participation at the 2008 Junior World Championship.”

Garneau continued, “As we look towards the future, in a time when the sport of professional cycling is volatile and its merits are being contested, this partnership pertains to the investment in the future of cycling and the athletes that will continue the sport that has been my passion and livelihood.”

“Our cycling performance wear has been proven, through research and development, to improve speed and performance at the high-level competitive stage these athletes compete in,” added Louis Garneau Global Marketing Director Pierre Perron. “A key element of our multi-year renewal is based on continuing this legacy of close collaboration on product design through access to world-class athletes, scientists, aerodynamicists, wind-tunnel facilities, and real-world testing. Because of this, Louis Garneau is known for its commitment to driving innovation for the future and pushing technology even further.”

“We are delighted to benefit from the renewed partnership with Louis Garneau for the next four years,” said Cycling Canada High Performance Director Jacques Landry. “Both Cycling Canada and Louis Garneau have always been committed to providing our cycling athletes with the best possible tools they require to perform at the highest international level. By working with LG to design state-of-the-art competitive clothing, our athletes will continue to perform on the international scene with the best apparel on the market.

Landry added,“Building on the success that Cycling Canada has had over the last four years by implementing a system to support our athletes’ potential, the next four years will be devoted to focusing on the processes that will give our athletes the optimal chances to win medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio.”

 

British Triathlon has announced that Z3R0D has been appointed as the Official Performance Apparel Sponsor to all Great Britain Championship Teams, including elite, paratriathlon and age-group until 2016.

Z3R0D, a Montpellier based French brand, driven by owners and triathletes Frédéric and Pierre Dorez, was selected by British Triathlon after an extensive tender process; aiming to determine not only a sound commercial relationship but also a partner that presented a dynamic forward thinking strategy and had a passion for the development of quality competition and casual triathlon wear.

On announcing the relationship, Zara Hyde Peters OBE, Chief Executive of British Triathlon said: “Z3R0D impressed British Triathlon in many ways; their passion for triathlon was clear along with their reputation for making great products that we know elite athletes enjoy competing in. We feel Z3R0D represents many of the brand values of the sport of triathlon; it’s young, dynamic, innovative and modern, without compromising performance. We look forward to this exciting new relationship.”

Frédéric Dorez, co-founder of Z3R0D said: “Z3R0D, the number one French triathlon brand is proud to be appointed as the Official Performance Apparel Sponsor of British Triathlon. The brand is very excited that British Triathlon’s already legendary athletes will continue to write history wearing Z3R0D.”