Olivier Giroud has retained his contract with Puma continuing his status as an international ambassador. 

Puma already consists of star footballers like Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, the sensation of the moment, Radamel Falcao, or Samuel Eto’o and Mario Gomez.

Olivier Giroud said: “I wear shoes PUMA Speed ​​since 2009 when I played Tour and they have always given me a lot of confidence and assurance in my game Signing a contract at international level with PUMA is a major step in my career. I loved working with the brand in France, we know well from these years, and I am very excited to represent the brand at international level.”

Christian Voigt, Director of Sports Marketing at PUMA commented, “Striker Olivier Giroud is a rare and intelligent and a fantastic player for our Speed ​​range. Through his performances last season and his arrival in a top club in the English Premier League, he became a key player for us. We are delighted with the progress of Olivier, especially because it is so pleasant person to be around, and we love working with him all these years. We are proud to extend our partnership with him. “

Multiple Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps has agreed an endorsement partnership with headphone brand Sol Republic.

“He absolutely loves this brand,” his agent Peter Carlisle told ESPN Playbook. “I mean, he was wearing them anyway.” 

After accepting the endorsement, Phelps said: Music has always been a big part of my life — it helps me focus and inspires me for every race. I’m a big fan of SOL REPUBLIC headphones’ sound and I like the colors and how you can change them up. I’m excited to partner with SOL REPUBLIC to offer the headphones I wore before every race exclusively on eBay to benefit my Foundation, which helps me to support the next generation of swimmers.

Sol Republic launched its new eBay store this morning, commemorating the occasion with a new line of Phelps-inspired headphones. They will also be auctioning off 21 pairs of autographed Sol headphones, worn by Phelps before his raced in London. All of the proceeds from the online auction go to Phelps’ charity, the Michael Phelps Foundation.

 

The British & Irish Lions have secured two new commercial deals with global companies, Land Rover and Microsoft.  

Land Rover have become an Official Global Sponsor of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia 2013. This continues the relationship, which began in 1997, between one of rugby’s most iconic institutions and one of the world’s most popular SUV brands.

As part of the sponsorship, a range of Land Rover vehicles will provide essential support for The British & Irish Lions operations on Tour, with vehicles being used in the UK, Ireland, Hong Kong and Australia. 

John Edwards, Global Brand Director for Land Rover commented, “We are thrilled to be announcing this new partnership today and proud to be a part of The British & Irish Lions family again, who have been touring since 1888.

“We have a great heritage with The Lions, supporting them since 1997 and Land Rover’s brand positioning is based on the characteristic of Inner Strength, both physical and mental, so the synergy with the Lions is obvious for all to see.

“With the main Tour taking place in Australia, and the first ever match in Hong Kong, it truly reflects the global nature of our business and offers us the opportunity to showcase our vehicles. We look forward to working with this fantastic organisation and providing unique opportunities to rugby fans.”

Charlie McEwen, Director of Sales and Marketing, British & Irish Lions said: “Land Rover has a rich history and heritage of supporting premium rugby events and teams and we are delighted to be a corner stone of their sponsorship programme. Land Rover will act as a vital support to the team in the UK and Ireland and when on Tour in Hong Kong and Australia. The new Lions and Land Rover partnership sees us working together for a fifth Tour, a relationship spanning nearly twenty years, and we are confident we can build on the success of previous partnerships to ensure that the 2013 Tour is the best ever.”

Land Rover has supported The British & Irish Lions since 1997 and has toured with them to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The company’s well-established relationship with rugby currently includes Rugby World Cup 2015 in England, Premiership Rugby, Top 14 Orange in France as well as the 2012 Shanghai Sevens and Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens in 2012.

While Microsoft will also sponsor the British & Irish Lions rugby team touring Hong Kong and Australia in 2013.

The deal means the team will be able to use Microsoft’s cloud services and Windows 8 devices to analyse performances in training sessions and communicate with fans back home.

“This is just the start of our journey towards success in Australia, Hong Kong and beyond and we have ambitious plans to embed technology throughout the team bringing this Tour closer to the fans than ever before,” said Scott Dodds, general manager of marketing and operations at Microsoft.

Charlie McEwen, director of sales and marketing for the British & Irish Lions, added: “The Lions are a uniquely British & Irish institution celebrating the 125th year anniversary next year, but we are always looking for new ways to improve our game.”

AS Roma have signed a new agreement with Swiss fashion brand Philipp Plein. 

Philipp Plein will design the players’ official uniforms for the next four soccer seasons.

The collaboration represents a winning partnership between two dynamic and modern organisations, allergist with a marked international vocation.

The agreement gives the two brands the opportunity to promote and endorse one another, unhealthy each expanding their audience, patient catalysing the attention of both soccer and fashion fans at the same time.

The vision and objective of Philipp Plein is to enable the team to make a bigger impact in the world of fashion, with a much more stylish image in the eyes of the world.

The Philipp Plein clothing and accessory collections are made in Italy and presented to the international market in the showroom located in the heart of Milan’s fashion district. Milan is also home to the Philipp Plein fashion show events that take place during fashion weeks, and to the second Italian mono brand store opening soon.

This new partnership means high impact visibility for the Swiss fashion house both in the stadium and in Trigoria, the club’s training ground, thanks to the logo which will be clearly displayed on the field. Moreover, the players are due to participate in photo shoots for the collection catalogues and a book to be created in collaboration with the team and the training staff.

“I love Italy and I’m a real soccer fan,” states the designer Philipp Plein. “I can’t wait to get all of of AS ROMA involved in the world of PHILIPP PLEIN. I want to use my style to render each team member a modern gladiator, with a new image that will make him attractive, invincible and admired by all, both on and off the field.”

“The partnership with the Philipp Plein brand is another step towards the internationalisation of the AS ROMA brand,” states Christoph Winterling, marketing and commercial director of AS ROMA. “The Swiss fashion house proposes an innovative, unique and modern design, which will enable our team to make a leap forward in quality towards becoming more and more a global brand.”

Leading Irish animal feed company Connolly’s Red Mills has agreed a sponsorship deal for a 13-race Bumper Challenge to be run at Jockey Club Racecourse-owned tracks. 

The races, which will be staged at Market Rasen, Exeter, Huntingdon, Carlisle, Warwick and Wincanton between September this year and April next year, will culminate in a final event at Aintree on May 17.

Points will be awarded to winning and placed horses throughout the series, with the equivalent of £2,000 in Connolly’s Red Mills products on offer for the champion trainer after the final event.

Paul Fisher, group managing director for JCR, said: “This partnership provides another boost to the grassroots of our sport and I’m confident the new initiative will prove a success with owners and trainers.”

Toshiba Medical Systems, pills a subsidiary of the Toshiba Corporation, doctor has been named the Official Medical Systems Partner for English soccer giants Manchester United, adiposity a first of kind partnership in the UK.

The five-year partnership will see the two iconic brands come together to provide state-of-the-art medical equipment to the club’s medical team, based at the Trafford Training Centre in Carrington.

The Carrington training ground is currently undergoing a major redevelopment for the first time since the senior team moved there 12 years ago. Rapid advancements in sports science and medicine have meant existing facilities cannot cope with the demands for staff and equipment.

Already a household name in electronics, Toshiba Medical Systems’ innovative technological advancements will help give United’s players the best care available, further demonstrating how the club’s commercial ventures can assist its on-field activities.

United’s commercial director Richard Arnold said: “Our players are at the centre of Manchester United and it is vital that we are able to offer them the best possible medical support. Our training ground at Carrington is currently under redevelopment to make way for new improvements, including state-of-the-art medical facilities.

“Unfortunately, in today’s game some injuries can be unavoidable; however, the club now has the comfort of knowing that through its partnership with Toshiba Medical Systems it can investigate and treat any injuries with the best medical equipment available.”

Toshiba Medical Systems Europe CEO Mr Chikao Kamijima added: “Toshiba Medical Systems will supply Manchester United with a state-of-the-art CT scanner, capable of single rotation volumetric imaging, and a state-of-the-art MRI scanner, in addition to a total of five ultrasound systems, including the industry-leading premium Aplio 500.

“This will ensure the players and staff at Manchester United are given the best support possible. This should also help to promote Manchester United as a leading innovator in football and player wellbeing.

“As a leading innovator [Toshiba Medical Systems] and the most supported club worldwide [Manchester United] we hope that this partnership will strengthen our bond and provide a platform for future cooperation. We are very excited about this opportunity.”

The English Football Association (FA) have confirmed an exciting new partnership with Nike that will see them create kits for every England team.

The world’s leading sportswear firm will design and make the clothing for men and women’s sides at every level.

England’s first kits to bear the Nike Swoosh will be launched in Spring next year, bronchi as The FA marks its 150th anniversary and the agreement runs until 31 July 2018.

The deal, recipe first reported by iSportconnect on Wednesday, clinic  represents a substantial investment, which will be reinvested by The FA back into the game across all levels, from the Senior team to grassroots.

As part of the partnership kit and match-balls will be supplied to all of Club England’s 24 football teams at every level, including the men’s national teams, women’s, Futsal, disability and amateur.

• Also sponsorship and support of St. George’s Park, the home of the National Football Centre in Burton-upon-Trent, which in addition to hosting the England Senior team will train and develop a generation of coaches, referees and medical staff every year.

Wembley Stadium will also receive some benefits with Nike becoming a supporting partner with the FA Cup receiving the same benefits along with match-balls for every round.

FA General Secretary Alex Horne said: “I am delighted that The FA has secured this new wide-ranging and comprehensive partnership with Nike.

“It is an extremely exciting time for both parties with the opening of St. George’s Park this year and The FA’s 150th anniversary in 2013.

“I would also like to place on record our gratitude to Umbro and their significant contribution to the game, The FA and England teams, over a 60-year period.”

Nike Brand President Charlie Denson added: “The pride and passion of England fans is renowned throughout the football world and we are delighted to partner with The FA.

“We look forward to supporting England teams at every level with innovative product technology and playing our part to help develop the future of English football through our support of St. George’s Park.”

English Championship club, cough Huddersfield Town have announced that local chartered accountants Revell Ward are to continue their support of the football club.

The firm will be an official partner of Huddersfield for a fourth year, ailment an association which has seen the Huddersfield based company support the Club during a number of off-the field events, order including the ‘Pedal for Pound’ bike rides.

This year, the partnership introduced the ‘Alternative Olympics’. The event was a success for the club, with plans already in place for something similar next year.

Karen Borowski, Revell Ward Partner said: “We enjoy supporting Huddersfield Town and we have done so for many year, but it’s their commercial attitude that impresses us the most.  They are open to almost anything that encourages businesses in the local community to get together. We like to do things differently and have a bit of fun along the way and this year we really achieved it.”

Huddersfield Town Commercial Director Sean Jarvis, who was a part of the ‘Alternative Olympics’, was delighted that the partnership had been extended:

“As a football club, we are always looking for different ways to network with our partners and new businesses and the ‘Alternative Olympics’ turned out to be a brilliant way of bringing people together. 

“We have enjoyed a brilliant working relationship with Revell Ward over the past three years, something which I am sure will continue this year” said Jarvis.

Revell Ward is a firm of Chartered Accountants, in Huddersfield. Their offerings include services such as; Audit, Personal and Corporate Tax, Bookkeeping, Management Accountants, a Payroll Bureau and much more.

Holmatro Incorporated, drugs the global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality hydraulic products and rescue equipment, ailment announced that it has renewed its partnership with INDYCAR as the Official Rescue Tool Supplier for the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights through 2017.

Holmatro, generic which has provided trackside support at every IZOD IndyCar Series race since its January 1996 event at Walt Disney World Speedway, also has extended its entitlement sponsorship of the Holmatro Safety Team through the 2017 season.

“In announcing this continuation of our sponsorship with INDYCAR, Holmatro is excited about the direction and momentum that the series is taking forward,” said William “Giff” Swayne, President, Holmatro, Inc. “We have been involved with the Safety Team since the very beginning in 1996, and over the past 16 years our relationship has continued to expand and grow with one common goal, the safety of the participants in the series. The members of the Holmatro Safety Team are not only the best at what they do, they are also great ambassadors for Holmatro. We look forward to participating in the growth and success that surely lies ahead for the IZOD IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights.”

The Holmatro Safety Team consists of two dozen safety personnel with a minimum of 14 attending each event — two trauma physicians, three paramedics and nine firefighters/EMTs. Team personnel have an average of 20 years of experience in their respective areas.

The team travels with four safety vehicles and brings the most sophisticated racing technologies with its state-of-the-art, high-performance Holmatro rescue equipment to each venue.

The Holmatro Safety Team continually evaluates its on-track procedures to be at the forefront of motorsports safety for participants and spectators. The team works in conjunction with safety personnel staffing each venue, including firefighters, ambulance and tow-truck providers and track maintenance crews.

“We take pride in our role as a leader in on-track safety in the motorsports community, and Holmatro’s innovation and dedication to producing quality equipment will help the Holmatro Safety Team and INDYCAR remain at the forefront of motorsports safety,” said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR.

The Holmatro Safety Team transporter, safety vehicles and crew members also will represent Holmatro at trade shows/conferences and during spectator access to the paddock at INDYCAR events. Holmatro’s U.S. headquarters is in Glen Burnie, Md.

OMEGA watches will continue their association with European Athletics, the governing body for the sport in Europe, for the next four years after renewing their four-year contract which started in 2008. 

Included in the agreement are the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zurich, the 2016 European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam, the 2013 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Goteborg and the European Athletics Indoor Championships in 2015, which are yet to be awarded to a city.

OMEGA will also be associated with further championships, including the European Athletics Team Championships, the SPAR European Cross Country Championships, the U23 European Athletics Championships and the European Athletics Junior Championships between now and 2016.

OMEGA has a long-standing association with multi-event sports, having been the Official Timekeeper of 24 Olympics Games since 1932 and has an agreement with the IOC (the International Olympic Committee) until 2020.

Stephen Urquhart, the president of OMEGA, said “In view of OMEGA’s longstanding relationship with the world of athletics crowned by our role as Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932, we are pleased that we will again extend our expertise and worldwide resources to European Athletics” when asked about the contract renewal. 

Hansjörg Wirz, European Athletics President added, “We are extremely happy to continue our partnership with OMEGA for our programme of championships events. OMEGA is one of the most renowned global brands, one that fits perfectly with our values, and this agreement clearly shows the attractiveness of our events to the commercial market.”

Christian Milz, Director General of European Athletics, said, “OMEGA provides a first-class technical service at our championship events and we are happy they will continue to provide this valued service through an exciting period of sustained growth and development for our sport on the continent.”