Major League Lacrosse (MLL), prostate the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, order announced Wednesday a partnership with Team 24/7 Lacrosse for the 2013 All-Star Game Youth Tournament.

Eligible teams will have the opportunity to head to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a five game jamboree style tournament taking place during MLL’s 2013 All-Star Weekend. The games will be played at Elon Park on Saturday, July 13, and Sunday, July 14, and will run from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on both days.

In addition to participating in a competitive tournament,  youth teams from around the country will be granted tickets to Saturday’s All-Star Game, as well as admission to Friday night’s pre-event festivities, including an All-Star player clinic and skills contest, and a viewing of the selection of the All-Star teams by the Ultimate Fan Fantasy Winners. Parents will have access to All-Star Game tickets and Charlotte area hotel room prices at reduced rates.

“All-Star Weekend has become such a special event for MLL,” Commissioner David Gross said. “We’re excited to partner with Team 24/7 to further enhance this weekend’s festivities.”

Team 24/7 Lacrosse was founded by Charlotte Hounds defenseman and 2012 All-Star Ryan Flanagan with the hopes of not only teaching the game, but bringing every player to their full potential. Team 24/7 offers camps, clinics, private lessons, and travel teams led by some of the world’s greatest lacrosse players who seek to develop the next crop of superstars by passing on their lessons and love for the game.

Flanagan feels honored to be given the opportunity to put on an event for the youth community, one that he feels speaks to the mission of Team 24/7.

“Considering how fast participation rates in lacrosse are growing, our mission is to give youth athletes the opportunity to learn from those that are playing the game today. This is why the free clinic for all tournament participants was such an important part when we put this entire event together. Kids are given the once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from some of the best players in the world with MLL All-Stars coaching the clinic,” he said.

 

Assistència Sanitària have extended their agreement remaining the official medical provider for FC Barcelona for a futher four years.

Assistència Sanitària will continue to provide the Club with medical insurance and hospital services.

The agreement will run until 30th June 2016. It brings together the two parties in provision of services and sponsorship, buy and in conditions that mean the extension and improvement of the contract. According to the agreement, the current official medical provider for FC Barcelona will carry on for another four years and will provide medical insurance and hospital services. In addition, the Club will use the Hospital de Barcelona as required, especially for carrying out complex medical tests.

After the signing ceremony, Barcelona president  Sandro Rosell spoke to highlight the importance of this contract renewal, underlining the benefits of a mutual collaboration that started in 2005. He expressed his delight at achieving an agreement between “two organizations of great note in Catalonia, and leaders in their respective fields: sport and health”.

Assistència Sanitària president, Dr. Orce stressed: “The coincidence of values between two organizations that have their roots in the common desire to improve in Catalan society.”

English soccer giant, Manchester United has today announced a new three-year partnership with Japan-based soft drinks manufacturer Kagome.

The new partnership, which will last until the end of the 2015/16 season, means the well-known Japanese brand will be the club’s Official Soft Drink Partner in Japan.

Kagome produces a range of vegetable and fruit-based soft drinks, including tomato juice, fruit & vegetable mixed juice and vegetable-origin lactic acid bacteria based drinks aimed at consumers who live a healthy and active lifestyle. Founded in 1899, Kagome has become Japan’s market leader in the production, cultivation and manufacture of tomato-based products including tomato ketchup, tomato juice, vegetable mixed juice and fruit and vegetable mixed juice.

Richard Arnold, Manchester United’s Commercial Director, said: “Kagome’s products symbolise health and wellbeing and what better way to endorse this than to partner with the number one club in the world’s biggest sport. This is the club’s first partnership of its kind and we are delighted to be able to work with such a well-established company that, like United, has over 100 years’ experience in its field.  Manchester United has almost 4 million followers in Japan and every time we visit, the welcome we receive is overwhelming.  I hope that all of these fans will support this new way of connecting with the club and enjoy some of the great products and activities Manchester United and Kagome will bring them.”

Ryo Koshino, Executive Officer and General Manager for Kagome’s Corporate Communication Division, added: “Kagome encourages and promotes a healthy lifestyle through exercise and vegetable intake. We feel our partnership with Manchester United, which is one of the world’s most popular football clubs, possessing a long history of tradition, will allow us to promote Kagome and our products to a wider audience. We will appreciate your continuous support of both Manchester United as well as Kagome products.”

The Hartford have announced an extended deal with United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to sponsor the U.S. Paralympic team.

The Hartford, erectile | which began a founding partnership of U.S. Paralympics in 2003, will continue as the Official Disability Insurance Sponsor of U.S. Paralympics through 2016.

“The partnership between The Hartford, with our focus on achievement and ability, and the U.S. Paralympic team is a natural fit,” said Mike Concannon, executive vice president of Group Benefits for The Hartford. “We have been a strong supporter of U.S. Paralympic athletes since 1994, and are proud to continue our partnership of helping individuals break through physical limitations to achieve greatness.”

“The Hartford has had a tremendous impact on the Paralympic movement in the United States,” said Charlie Huebner, U.S. Olympic Committee Chief of Paralympics. “Throughout its long history with U.S. Paralympics, including more than 15 years of sponsoring programs, organizations and world-class athletes, the company has been a true leader and we are proud that our great partnership will continue.”

As part of the partnership, The Hartford sponsors and organizes more than 200 events featuring U.S. Paralympic athletes throughout the United States annually. These events provide a terrific opportunity for The Hartford’s employees, clients and agency partners to share a meaningful experience in the course of everyday business. These events also create educational opportunities across the U.S. to promote awareness – particularly within the business community – about the value that employees with disabilities bring to the workplace.

Events include The Hartford’s Paralympic Experiences, in which able-bodied professionals experience what it’s like to overcome a physical limitation to achieve success. In conjunction with the London 2012 Paralympic Games, The Hartford launched the Achieve Without Limits Campaign to give consumers the opportunity to engage with elite U.S. Paralympic athletes, to be inspired by the athletes’ stories, and understand what it means to achieve without limits.

“The Hartford’s continued support of U.S. Paralympics, and athletes like myself, allows us to become better athletes, focus on our athletic goals, and reach for our dreams,” said Melissa Stockwell, a U.S. Army veteran and paratriathlete who is training for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games. “Through The Hartford’s programs and events, we’re not only raising awareness of U.S. Paralympics, but also showing everyone how athletes with disabilities are able to strive for goals with no boundaries and achieve what may seem impossible.”

Newcastle United has renewed its partnership with Thomas Cook Sport as the Club’s Official Travel Partner for a further League season, until the end of 2013. 

Thomas Cook Sport will continue to provide travel for supporters, teams and officials, as well as offer Match Breaks for fans to watch home fixtures, which includes accommodation and a guaranteed match ticket. 

Supporters also benefit this season with official packages available for European trips. Newcastle fans can also use the exclusive Holiday Club, which guarantees supporter discounts on holidays booked through Thomas Cook.

The new deal will see Thomas Cook Sport reach supporters in new territories, welcoming more fans from overseas to St. James’ Park, grow its presence across international markets and build on the Club’s profile.

Dale Aitchison, Head of Partnerships at Newcastle United, said: “Through the existing partnership with Thomas Cook Sport, we have built an excellent relationship and I am delighted that we can announce the extension.

“We look forward to working with Thomas Cook Sport to support our mutual goals and ensure more fans can watch the team at home and abroad, as we go from strength-to-strength both on and off the pitch.”

Danny Talbot, Managing Director of Thomas Cook Sport, said: “It’s fantastic news that we’ve extended our partnership with Newcastle United Football Club. 

“We’ve built a strong relationship with the Club and fans over the last three years, and we look forward to expanding our successful partnership over the coming seasons.”

The International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) has renewed its sponsorship of the Faldo Series until 2015.

Already a supporter of Sir Nick Faldo’s golf development programme in Asia since 2010, ed ISPS is appointed global partner with immediate effect.

“Sir Nick and I both share a commitment to growing golf at all levels so I am excited to build on three successful years working together in Asia and expand our efforts worldwide, allergist ” said ISPS chairman Haruhisa Handa.  “We are pleased to support the Faldo Series.  At the same time this is an opportunity for ISPS to showcase blind and disabled golf and further our wider mission for blind and disabled golf to become a Paralympic sport.”

“It is the support of partners like ISPS which enables the Faldo Series to bring opportunity through golf to more than 7, generic 000 young people each year in 30 countries worldwide,” added Faldo.  “I am grateful to Dr Handa for sharing my vision and I applaud his efforts to grow the game for blind and disabled golfers.”

ISPS was founded in 2006 by the Japanese philanthropist to support charitable causes throughout the sporting world. ISPS has since fostered partnerships with golfing bodies across the globe to help develop the game at every level, including blind and disabled golf.  Its wider mission is for golf to become a Paralympic sport.

ISPS joins The R&A as a global partner of the Faldo Series which was launched by the six-time Major Champion in 1996 and now benefits young people across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Asia.  Past winners include current world number ones Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng.

Nissan announced a media agreement with the Spanish Football Federation that allows the company to become an official sponsor and the official car for the national football team until 2014, associating the Nissan brand philosophy 
with ‘La Roja’ values.

During the press conference, Manuel de la Guardia, Managing Director of Nissan Iberia, highlighted that the values which identify Spanish football – dedication, teamwork and enthusiasm- are in common with Nissan’s values.

“We, at Nissan, are proud to have made this partnership with the Spanish Football Federation, it is very positive for the brand, but is also a vector to build a strong story for the coming two years,” said Manuel de la Guardia. He also highlighted the commonality of the Spanish National football team values to the ones of Nissan, “Both play against hard competition, both bring excitement in peoples lives, both create innovation in their respective areas and both are accessible in everything they do.”

The Spanish executive was joined by coach Vicente Del Bosque and team players. De la Guardia stressed: “The team players will be great ambassadors of our brand worldwide.”

Just as ‘La Roja’ has become the undisputed leader of world football, Nissan wants to help Spain become the driver who will lead the electric vehicle industry. Spain is in a unique position to do so because it has the second largest automotive industry in Europe after Germany. “This sponsorship deal with the Spanish Football Federation will allow Nissan to widely publicise a new way of understanding for massive and sustainable mobility,” stated Manuel de la Guardia.

The RFL and Super League (Europe) Ltd have agreed a three-year contract with Rhino that will see the Somerset-based contact and training equipment company become the official ball supplier for all club matches until the end of the 2015 season.

Rhino, ampoule who supplied the post protectors for Super League and RFL matches in 2012, have been the official supplier of training equipment to St Helens in recent years, as well as supplying teamwear to a number of Rugby League clubs.

RFL Commercial Director James Mercer said he was delighted to welcome Rhino to the sport’s expanding stable of commercial partners.

“I would like to congratulate Rhino on winning what was a very competitive commercial process to become the official ball supplier to Super League and the Championships,” said Mercer.

“Rhino are an established brand in rugby union and we look forward to working with them over the next three years as they look to replicate that success in Rugby League.”

Rhino Chief Executive Reg Clark commented: “This is an important breakthrough for Rhino and follows on from us being appointed official ball supplier to the British and Irish Lions for the second successive tour and to the RaboDirect PRO12 competition.

“We are very excited about this partnership which gives us immediate contact and coverage of Rugby League clubs at all levels of the game – from community upwards.”

Admiral Yacht Insurance has announced a further three years’ support of the long distance rallies organised by World Cruising Club (WCC) which include the hugely popular Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) and the World ARC.  

The Salisbury based yacht insurance company has supported World Cruising from the outset.  “Our participation gives us the opportunity to exchange knowledge with yacht owners interested in extended cruising, allergy ” explains Robert Holbrook of Admiral.

Admiral works closely with World Cruising Club to help owners with their preparation.  Not only is the company in attendance at the three World Cruising Club seminars, held for each year’s entrants, to answer questions and provide advice on risk management, but also in Las Palmas so as to be on hand as their ARC clients prepare for the rally.  Importantly, as part of Admiral’s insurance package, all ARC clients receive a complimentary rig check which is carried out by a qualified rigger prior to the start of the rally.  This precautionary service is extremely popular, and is also available to Admiral’s World ARC clients in St Lucia and Cape Town. On the lighter side, the company throws the now famous pre-start Admiral Happy Hour party in Las Palmas, and another party in the tiny Pacific island of Niue, during the World ARC.

The always over-subscribed ARC starts in Las Palmas each November and ends in Rodney Bay, St Lucia.  The rally is designed to enable yachts crossing the Atlantic for the winter season to cruise in the safe environment of fleet companionship. The next World ARC circumnavigation starts in Las Palmas in January 2014 and covers 26,000 miles over 15 months.

While Admiral provides insurance cover for a wide range of yachts both in the UK and overseas, the company is well known for its specialist knowledge on keeping yachts in the Caribbean.  ARC participants planning to leave their yachts there at the end of the rally can get advice from Admiral on finding facilities in the Caribbean for services and repair and for avoiding hurricane areas. 

“A significant number of ARC transatlantic participants are Admiral policy holders,” says Robert Holbrook, “and the event is a very good way of understanding their needs at close quarters, helping us to continuously develop our services for all yacht owners.”