Swiss sports watch brand Certina has renewed it’s long-term partnership with Sauber F1 Team.

The Certina lettering will appear on the sidepod wind deflectors as well as on the helmet visors of both drivers. Certina will also be providing its precision sports timepieces to drivers Nico Hülkenberg (DE) and Esteban Gutiérrez (MX) as well as the entire race team. 

“Certina has always been strongly committed to cutting-edge technology,” says Monisha Kaltenborn, CEO of the Sauber F1 Team, “and that’s an ideology we share. Since 2005, we have also been united by an enduring partnership that embraces common values such as innovation and efficiency. These are key factors behind the upturn in the Sauber F1 Team to which Certina has made a definitive contribution.” 

Adrian Bosshard, President von Certina, corroborates this: “After an eight-year partnership with the Sauber F1 Team, we are delighted to be continuing to make use of this dynamic and innovative Formula One platform. The Team’s professional work ethic and typical Swiss mindset are the perfect match for our brand.”

The PGA TOUR and Humana Inc., one of the America’s leading health care companies have extended it’s partnership.

As part of the new agreement, Humana will continue as Official Health Benefits Company of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour and also will become the first “Health and Well-Being Partner of the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour.”

Humana utilizes the Official Marketing Partnership to promote its health and well-being platform through initiatives such as the Humana Walkit program and the Humana Well-Being Tour at tournaments, as well as its “Walk Like a Pro” advertising thematic and sponsorship of PGA TOUR players. This partnership with the PGA TOUR is another way Humana is raising the conversation about health and spreading its message of well-being throughout the year and across PGA TOUR stops.

In addition to the Official Marketing Partnership, Humana expanded its PGA TOUR relationship with its eight-year tournament sponsorship of the Humana Challenge, in partnership with the William J. Clinton Foundation. Held in La Quinta, CA, the Humana Challenge focuses on healthy living and health-related issues in a multitude of ways, including the Health Mattersconference hosted by President Clinton. The second Humana Challenge PGA TOUR event begins later this week, on Thursday January 17.

Just last week, Humana also announced a partnership with golf icon Gary Player to promote lifelong well-being and healthy living through proper diet and exercise, as well as plans to help address the increasing challenges of childhood obesity. As part of the partnership, Player will serve as a well-being ambassador for Humana.

“We are excited to extend our great partnership with the PGA TOUR and to continue to inspire golf fans across the country to take a more active role in their health,” said Bruce Broussard, President and CEO of Humana. “Since 2005 we have forged a relationship with the PGA TOUR that demonstrates the important connection between golf and health. It is with this same vision that we chose to sponsor the Humana Challenge, which is all about ‘well-being … with a side of golf.”

“Through our longstanding marketing relationship and now its title sponsorship of the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, Humana plays a critical role in the PGA TOUR’s ever-expanding focus on health and well-being,” said Tom Wade, PGA TOUR Chief Marketing Officer. “From the Walkit program and Humana Well-Being Tour, to the extensive activities in and around the Humana Challenge, Humana has been highly creative in promoting personal wellness in a fun way which engages our fans. We are extremely pleased to extend our relationship with Humana.”

British No.1 women’s Tennis player, Heather Watson has inked an endorsement agreement with beauty company Benefit Cosmetics.

The deal, brokered by IMG Tennis, a division of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company, saw the 20-year-old sport the Benefit Cosmetics logo in Melbourne Park for the first time.

Ben Crandell of IMG Tennis, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce Benefit Cosmetics to the sporting arena and a global tennis market.  There is an excellent synergy between Heather and Benefit Cosmetics and we very much look forward to working with such a creative team.” 

Ian Marshall, Managing Director of Benefit Cosmetics, said: “It is true to say that there hasn’t been a plethora of success in UK women’s tennis in the past 20 years. Benefit Cosmetics are therefore very excited and delighted to be working closely with the UK’s most exciting tennis star in a generation – Heather Watson.

“In addition to her inimitable skill, we love the fact that Heather has such a warm, sunny personality – she’s a girl with great ambitions and a very grounded approach. We look forward to working closely with Heather and the IMG team, hopefully adding a touch of pink Benefit magic to Heather’s campaign.”

Heather, who became the first British woman to win a WTA Tour singles title in 24 years when she won the HP Open in Osaka, Japan, in October last year, said: “Benefit Cosmetics are a really cool, fun brand and I have been a huge fan of their products for a long time. I have been using a number of their products for years and I’m very excited to be partnering with them.”

The reigning Stanley Cup Champions, Los Angeles Kings announced that McDonald’s will serve as the first-ever season presenting sponsor for the Club during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons. 

McDonald’s has been associated with both the team and STAPLESCenter as a Founding Partner for fourteen years, but this off-season the Southern California McDonald’s Franchisee’s agreed to significantly increase its presence with the team. 

As a part of this partnership, McDonald’s will be integrated into all facets of the Kings organization.  Amongst the highlights and beginning today, the Kings will proudly showcase a new joint logo integrating the blue chip brand with the Kings shield.  This Joint Logo will be featured prominently in all the Kings marketing and promotional efforts as well as in-arena, on-line and throughout the community. 

“McDonald’s has been a great long time supporter of the Kings and we are very excited to extend and enhance our relationship with them,” said Kings President, Business Operations Luc Robitaille.  “Our brands side by side look incredible and we have such admiration and respect for the McDonald’s franchisee’s and their agency Davis Elen, that it seems to be a perfect match.”

The Kings kicked off this multi-year partnership today with the inaugural McDonald’s Day.  Members of the Kings Ice Crew and Street Team visited local McDonald’s locations today raffling Kings memorabilia including mini Stanley Cups to Kings fans and with McDonald’s food products deliveries to local TV and radio station personnel.

In addition, as a part of this newly expanded partnership, McDonald’s will be the Presenting Sponsor of the opening night banner giveaway, receive logo placement on the Kings practice jerseys and press backdrops, receive integration into club’s annual Legends Series, present the Player of the Month fan voting platform and be integrated into a wide variety of community and grassroots events.

Said AEG Global Partnerships SVP Bill Pedigo: “Winning The Cup has certainly given our organization the opportunity to deliver greater results for our partners on new and unique platforms.  This expanded partnership with McDonald’s is a prime example of that and will certainly play a significant role in the future success of the team on and off the ice.”

“McDonald’s Owner/Operators of Southern California have had a long and treasured relationship with the Los Angeles Kings, culminating with their most memorable march through last season all the way to the Stanley Cup,” said Mike Mangione, President, McDonald’s Operators’ Association of Southern California.

“We’re happy this season has been saved, and look forward to our Stanley Cup Champion Kings taking the ice on the 19^th, to a winning season, and to a continuing partnership in the future.”

Leading sports nutrition brand High5 is now supplying women’s cycling development team, viagra 60mg Scott Contessa Epic Race Team, adiposity with its latest generation of sports nutrition products.

This is part of an on-going effort by High5 to support women’s cycling.

Formed at the start of 2012, help the team’s first full season was simply outstanding. The Scott Contessa Epic Race Team won numerous races in the UK and Europe, took the UK National Team series and picked up medals of every colour in British, European and World championships.

Riders will benefit from High5?s advanced nutrition products that will help them perform at their best on race day.

Callaway Golf Company has signed Ryo Ishikawa to a multi-year contract.

Ishikawa, site a ten-time winner on the Japanese Tour by the age of 21, professional buy joins Callaway as a full staff professional and to play the Company’s cutting-edge equipment, clinic including its new RAZR Fit Xtreme Driver and the Odyssey putters Ishikawa has relied on throughout his career, including nine of his professional victories. Beyond the equipment, the Saitama, Japan native will wear Callaway-branded apparel, caps, gloves and footwear.

“I am very happy to join the Callaway team,” said Ryo Ishikawa. “I believe the wonderful innovation and support Callaway gives to its many great staff players with help me grow as I compete on the PGA Tour this year.”

In May of 2007, when Ishikawa was just 15 years and eight months old, he became the youngest golfer to win a men’s tournament on the Japan Golf Tour, winning the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup. Since then his rise to golf stardom in Japan has been swift and steady. Ishikawa turned professional in 2008 and by the end of that season, he became the youngest player to break into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings. He went on to dominate the 2009 season in Japan. With four wins on Tour, he was showered with accolades, including the leading money winner on Tour and the Japan GTO MVP. In September of that year, Ishikawa became the youngest golfer to ever reach the top 50 on the Official World Golf Rankings.

“Ryo is an exciting, young international talent who has proven he can compete and win at the highest level,” said Chip Brewer, President and Chief Executive Office, Callaway Golf. “And not only is he an accomplished golfer, Ryo is an extraordinary and generous young man. We are proud that he has chosen our products for their exceptional performance, and we are excited to welcome Ryo to Team Callaway.”

Ishikawa played several events on the PGA TOUR for the first time in 2009. He caught the attention of the American golfing community at the 2010 U.S. Open, where his pink attire and low scores piqued interest in the Japanese phenom. His best major performance came at The Masters in 2011, where he finished T20. 

This follows Panasonic not renewing their sponsorship of Ishikawa.

South African number one squash player, pills Steven Coppinger has announced a new partnership with UK squash brand MANTIS.

The five time South African National title winner and world No. 23 will be using the MANTIS Power 110 racket when he kicks off 2013 PSA tournaments in January with the new MANTIS Tour response string in the rackets.

Coppinger, who resides in Cape Town, said: “I am delighted to have joined the MANTIS family and look forward to a long and positive relationship.

“Despite being a new brand on the market they have already impressed on the circuit and there are very exciting times ahead.”

Martin Aldridge, founder and managing director of MANTIS, commented; “Steve is our first World top 25 player and we are delighted that he has chosen MANTIS.

“2012 was a superb year for us as a brand across all of our sports and this signing does really help start 2013 in style.”

Coppinger joins Emma Beddoes, Eddie Charlton and top ranked UK age group juniors Elise Lazarus and Robbie Keefe as an ambassador for the Squash range of the UK based racket sports brand.

MANTIS are the Official Racket to the Allam British Open squash championships in Hull in May2013 and  recently announced that former British number 1 and US Open finalist, Greg Rusedski, as Brand Ambassador for their tennis range .

SUGOI Performance Apparel, a brand of Dorel Industries, announced today that it will join the UCI’s Cannondale Pro Cycling Team as the Official Technical Apparel Sponsor for the 2013 season.

The brand will design the official team kits, including a pro jersey and high performance cycling bib short, with the brand’s award-winning RS chamois.

“SUGOI is synonymous with superior cycling apparel so it is a natural fit for us to work with professional athletes and move into the pro tour arena,” says Kyle Weiner, SUGOI President. “What is particularly exciting for us, and consumers, is that the pro kits will be available for anyone to purchase through our retail partners.”

Available in stores worldwide this spring, the Pro Team line offers a design and fabric concept that enables avid cyclists to experience the same elite product worn by the world’s top riders. To ensure apparel of the highest standard, SUGOI worked closely with the Cannondale Pro Cycling team to test and develop the full kit for consumers.

“This didn’t happen overnight,” says Weiner. “We worked for months with the team and with Cannondale to design a kit reflective of the quality, comfort and style that world champion cyclists rely on and are proud to wear. The result is stellar, and we can’t wait for feedback on the user experience.”

The Pro Jersey will be complemented by a full kit including a bib short, in SUGOI’s top selling RS design; a Pro Vest; arm warmers; cycling gloves; socks; and race caps.

This announcement comes on the heels of the official Cannondale Pro Cycling Team launch in Los Angeles where team captains, Ivan Basso, Peter Sagan, Elia Viviani and Moreno Moser were introduced.