Snowboarder Kazuhiro Kokubo Endorses CAPiTA

CAPiTA Snowboarding has announced the addition of Kazuhiro Kokubo to its team of professional athletes.

As one of the most respected riders worldwide, Kokubo has a long list of accolades.

The X-Games medalist has six FIS World Cup victories and has graced the cover of every international snowboarding magazine but one. A two-time Olympian, his accomplishments also include back-to-back wins at the US OPEN of Snowboarding. The March 2011 title was especially momentous as he became the first Japanese rider to win the US OPEN of Snowboarding multiple times. The victory came just one day after the Tsunami rocked his home country, adding to the enormity of the moment.

CAPiTA President Blue Montgomery commented, “We’re honored to have Kazu join us. Normally we don’t sign athletes outside our farm system, but Kazu is a perfect match. Who he is, how he presents himself, what he stands for… he’s a very unique person and such a stylish, powerful snowboarder. He defends awesome. The future around here looks bright.”

At CAPiTA, Kokubo joins two-time X-Games Gold Medalist Dan Brisse, Transworld Snowboarding’s Women’s Rider of the Year Jess Kimura, Superstar Scott Stevens and Rookie of the Year nominee Brandon Cocard

Bridgestone Extends Tire Supply of IndyCar Until 2018

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations and INDYCAR announced today that Bridgestone Americas’ Firestone brand will remain the sole tire supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series through the 2018 race season. 

“Firestone performance and safety have been synonymous with Indy car racing for more than 100 years,” said Al Speyer, executive director, Firestone Racing. “We are excited about the opportunity to continue the ongoing success of this series by extending the Firestone brand’s history in the sport through the 2018 season. We treasure the relationships we have fostered with the league, drivers, owners and various other partners involved with the sport through the years, and look forward to continuing our legacy of high performance for which Firestone tires are known.” 

Firestone has supplied tires to the IZOD IndyCar Series since the league began in 1996, and this announcement confirms the Firestone brand’s participation in the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race in 2016. As part of the partnership extension, the Firestone brand will increase its commitment to and investments in the series to help maximize the growth potential of the series. 

“The Firestone brand’s significant contributions to IZOD IndyCar Series racing are the result of more than 100 years of experience competing in this sport, most recently as part of a continuous 22-year partnership,” said Jeff Belskus, interim president and CEO, INDYCAR. “The agreement expands our opportunity to continue working together to provide on-track excitement for our fans and grow the sport through coordinated and consistent off-track promotions. This is an important relationship for both Firestone and INDYCAR and we are very pleased to continue the association.” 

The expanded agreement begins in 2014, and includes tires and technical support, investments in advertising, event promotions, at-track signage, hospitality, race title sponsorships and other programs. Specific details of the agreement and relationship will be announced next year. 

The title sponsorship and official tire status of the Firestone Indy Lights series will run through 2013. 

“Our partnership with the IZOD IndyCar Series is based on mutual respect and benefit to all parties. Our agreement to move forward together is a manifestation of the business value we both realize from this partnership as well as the legacy of safety and performance that we have built together over a century of experience,” said Speyer. 

“We are proud to continue our tradition of exceptional support for the IndyCar Series. One of our future aims is to help grow interest, so we look forward to welcoming a new generation of fans to the sport while at the same time energizing the existing loyal fan base. Fans are the true end customer for both INDYCAR and Firestone, and their engagement is fundamental to our mutual future success.” 

The IZOD IndyCar Series 2013 schedule includes 16 tracks with doubleheader race weekends at Belle Isle Park in Detroit; in Toronto, Canada; and at Reliant Park in Houston, Texas. 

In addition to the partnership with the IZOD IndyCar Series, the Firestone brand will be the official tire of the race season kickoff — the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg, Fla., and the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach, Calif. 

In keeping with tradition, Firestone will remain the Official Tire of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. Firestone also will continue as the title sponsor of the Firestone 550 at Texas Motor Speedway in June.

Nissan Drops Team RadioShack Title Sponsorship

Team RadioShack have been severely hit after car manufacturer Nissan dropped their title sponsorship of the cycling team.

In a statement sent to Cycling Weekly, Nissan’s vice president of corporate communications, David P. Reuter said, “Nissan and the management team of RadioShack-Nissan-Trek cycling have reached an agreement that provides for Nissan’s immediate withdrawal as a sponsor of the team, while enabling the team to continue competing in the upcoming 2013 season. Nissan wishes the riders, team management, and professional cycling well in future endeavours.”

It is believed Nissan will carry on with its financial support, as contracted, through 2013, even if it asked for its name to be removed. The team must redesign their kits, bus and equipment, search for a new car supplier and apply for a name change with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The WorldTour season starts with the Tour Down Under, January 22 to 27.

Flamengo Ink Major Sponsorship Deal with Adidas

Flamengo’s Deliberative Council have approved ten-year sponsorship deal with Adidas worth at least R$420 million ($200 million).

The deal, valid from 1 May 2013, will be the biggest in the history of Latin American football and could eventually total R$500 million once various performance related variables are added in.

Around 300 of the club’s councillors met to approve the deal, which passed unanimously with only one abstention as the club look to make a new period in their history after recent financial turmoil.

Upon signing the deal, the Brazilian club will receive a R$6.5 million payment, with a further $3.5 million to be paid to terminate the club’s current deal with Olympikus.

The club may then receive a further $50 million of advance payments in January, giving the club a massive cash injection in the coming months—a welcome relief given the club’s need to pay the next installment of Vagner Love’s transfer fee to CSKA Moscow early next year.

Novak Djokovic Signs Management Deal with IMG

IMG Worldwide, the global sports company, announced today that it has signed ATP World No. 1 player Novak Djokovic for exclusive worldwide management and representation.

Under the terms of the exclusive multi-year agreement, IMG will represent Djokovic in developing a brand building strategy through marketing, endorsements, appearances and licensing along with select global business initiatives.

In making the announcement, IMG Chairman and CEO Mike Dolan said: “Novak Djokovic is a superbly talented tennis player, and world-class competitor who demonstrates a very strong character through his passion and commitment to his game. I believe he has the ability to translate those qualities into achieving great success working with global brands in the marketplace.”

“I’m very happy with how my career has been advancing these past few years. Working with IMG will continue to build off of that momentum. IMG’s expansive global footprint will offer me a truly unique set of resources to explore business opportunities that simply do not exist anywhere else in the industry,” added Novak Djokovic.

Fernando Soler, Head of IMG’s Global Tennis division, commented: “We are very pleased to have a great champion such as Novak, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, choose IMG to work with during this momentous time in his career.”

Djokovic has won five Grand Slam singles titles — 2008, 2011 and 2012 Australian Open, the 2011 Wimbledon Championships, and the 2011 U.S. Open Champion.

In 2011 he became the sixth player in history to win three grand slam titles in a one year period. He is also the first male Serbian tennis player to win a Major singles title and the youngest player in the open era to have reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slam events, separately and consecutively.

IMG is the leading client management company in tennis. IMG represents some of the world’s top men and women tennis players. The company’s roster of top tennis clients includes many of today’s superstars: Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, Li Na and Thomas Berdych.

JetBlue Airways Named Official Domestic Airline of Barclays Center

JetBlue Airways, impotent has announced its status as the Official Domestic Airline of the brand new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, a major sports and entertainment venue showcasing an extensive variety of events, including premier concerts, major professional boxing cards, top college basketball, family shows, and the Brooklyn Nets.

On Thursday, Dec. 20 the airline will launch the partnership with Barclays Center Day from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., post-security at its world-class home at John F. Kennedy International Airport’s (JFK) Terminal 5, complete with a branded SportPros court where ticketed customers will have the opportunity to shoot hoops for great prizes including flight giveaways and Nets game tickets. The Brooklyn Nets dance team, Brooklynettes, will be onsite to entertain. 

“Barclays Center represents renewal and innovation in New York, much like JetBlue was introduced over a decade ago,” said Marty St. George, senior vice president of marketing and commercial strategy. “We’re very happy to be part of this new endeavor, which promises to delight and entertain fans for many years to come. As the largest domestic carrier at JFK, with our new support center here in Long Island City, we’re New York’s Hometown Airline and, like the Barclays Center, will maintain our focus on top notch customer service, value and entertainment. The partnership is a perfect fit.”

“JetBlue is a great New York City-based airline, which offers the same commitment to top customer service and innovation as Barclays Center,” Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark said. “We are looking forward to welcoming JetBlue passengers to Barclays Center for world-class sports and entertainment.”

Paris Saint-Germain Signs Major Commercial Deal with QTA

Paris Saint-Germain have inked a huge deal with the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) that will bring the Ligue 1 leaders more than €150 million ($198.5m) over each of the next four seasons, according to reports.

The agreement with the QTA, a body linked to the Qatari state that is aimed at promoting tourism in the Arab state, was revealed to French football’s financial watchdog, the DNCG, on Tuesday, Le Parisien reports. It is not a sponsorship agreement but a “vast publicity campaign intended to promote the image of Qatar”, the paper adds.

Retroactive for 2012, it will boost PSG’s coffers by €150 million for the current campaign, increasing progressively to a minimum of €200 million in its final season, 2015-2016. That sum could be even larger, with the contract containing bonus clauses based on the team’s performances in European competition.

The initial influx of revenue will help balance PSG’s books for the current season, and keep them in line with UEFA Financial Fair Play guidelines. With European football’s governing body taking into account clubs’ finances as of the 2011-12 season, the deal with the QTA is a major boost for PSG. A recent France Football article had claimed nothing short of victory in the Champions League final this season would ensure the club met UEFA criteria.

Brewin Dolphin to Sponsor Gloucester Rugby

Gloucester Rugby have announced that Brewin Dolphin Investment Management and Financial Planning specialists are to be their events partner for 2012/2013.

The new partnership means that, not only will Brewin Dolphin sponsor the bi-monthly Business Breakfasts, but also the rugby club’s annual Golf Day, Race Day at Cheltenham, and a number of other fabulous events throughout the year.

Alex Barrell, Head of Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham was delighted to announce the link up between the two organisations:

“We are very excited about the prospects of teaming up with Gloucester Rugby. Many of our clients are supporters of the club and having just joined the 1873 Club it seemed the natural thing to do.

“At Brewin Dolphin we like to associate ourselves with successful businesses, and Gloucester Rugby is definitely that.

“We look forward to working with the club and meeting some great people along the way.”

Brewin Dolphin provides complete investment management and financial planning services.

Golfer Zach Johnson to Endorse Oakley

Oakley, medicine Inc. today announced that Zach Johnson has joined its family of professional golfers.

The latest player to become part of Oakley Golf, ed Johnson has relied on the company’s performance eyewear for years and will now take advantage of the innovations offered by Oakley performance golf apparel.

“We are very excited about bringing this nine-time PGA Tour winner into the Oakley Golf family,” said Scott Bowers, SVP of Global Marketing and Brand Development at Oakley. “A Masters champion, Zach is joining an expanding roster of golf talent that has chosen to rely on Oakley technologies. That choice underscores the authenticity of innovation that is now redefining performance and potential for golfers worldwide.”

“It’s a good feeling to join Oakley,” said Johnson. “They love the game as much as I do, and they put a lot into making products that feel and play better than anything else out there. I’ll be proud to play in Oakley performance golf apparel, and I look forward to being part of their family.”

In addition to setting the pace of style for one of the most dynamic eras of play, Oakley golf apparel offers a comprehensive range of benefits, optimizing performance and comfort with features such as the best-in-class moisture management of O Hydrolix™ technology.

Bowers added, “There’s so much going on with Oakley Golf, and the addition of Zach comes at a time of tremendous excitement. This has been a huge year for us, an opportunity to see Oakley golf products authenticate our icon as a symbol of uncompromising quality and performance in the game. We let innovation set the pace, and our pace is gaining even more momentum. Oakley golf is about to expand in a big way. We look forward to 2013 with great anticipation.”

Azad Watches Named Official Timepiece Sponsor of US Bobsled & Skeleton Federation

Azad Watches, medicine Inc. has announced it has joined U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (USBSF) as the official timepiece sponsor for the national team.

Azad recognizes that time is one thing that cannot be bought or even acquired, but something absolute, inevitable and always limited.  Bobsled and skeleton athletes measure their accomplishments by hundredths of a second, and Azad offers the team an exceptional variation on the telling of time through its unique collection of timepieces.

Azad means freedom in Persian, and the brand values the concept of free time and free choice.  Azad offers a luxury sports line and an haute tourbillion line in a range of movements, colors and textures.  Two of these collections that honor contributors in sports and entertainment includes “Legend of the Game” and “The Championship Watches.”  Both lines “embody everything it takes to be a winner through luxurious and precision horological technology that defines Azad Watches and transcends into the realm of champions,” according to creator Babak “Bobby” Ermankhah.

“The United States has some bobsled and skeleton legends and we are working hard to create more as we build our team for the 2014 Games,” said USBSF CEO Darrin Steele.  “Azad Watches takes pride in honoring ‘Legends of the Game,’ and we are excited to welcome them into our family as a new sponsor.”

Each bobsled and skeleton athlete named to the 2014 Winter Olympic team will be honored with an Azad watch from one of these collections as a token of their contribution to their sports.