SKODA AUTO ist auch 2012 wieder Hauptsponsor und offizieller Fahrzeugpartner der Tour de France. Der Automobilhersteller unterstützt die 99. Auflage des Radsportklassikers bereits zum neunten Mal.

“Die Tour de France wird in den nächsten drei Wochen wieder Radsportfans aus aller Welt begeistern”, sagt Jürgen Stackmann, SKODA Vorstand Vertrieb und Marketing. “Wir als Hauptsponsor teilen diese Begeisterung für den Radsport. Denn SKODA, die drittälteste noch produzierende Fahrzeugmarke der Welt, begann ihre Erfolgsgeschichte mit der Fertigung von Fahrrädern im Jahr 1895. Dank der Tour sieht auch 2012 wieder ein Milliardenpublikum unsere Marke und unsere Modelle”, so Stackmann.

Im Rahmen ihrer Sponsoring-Aktivitäten schicken die Tschechen eine aus gut 110 Fahrzeugen bestehende Fahrzeugflotte nach Frankreich. Außerdem ist die Marke Partner des ‘Weißen Trikots’ – für den besten Fahrer unter 25 Jahren – und unterstützt fünf Profiteams und zwei technische Assistenz-Teams.

Die rund 110 Fahrzeuge stellt SKODA den Organisatoren der Tour de France zur Verfügung. Dabei bietet der Autobauer in Frankreich vom Citigo bis zum Superb seine gesamte aktuelle Modellpalette auf. Neben den Begleitfahrzeugen für Organisatoren und das Fahrerfeld dürfte vor allem der rote SKODA Superb von Tour-Direktor Christian Prudhomme die Blicke auf sich ziehen. Aktiv präsentiert sich SKODA auch in der Werbekarawane. Die so genannte ‘caravane publicitaire’ fährt ein bis zwei Stunden vor dem Feld und ist bei den Zuschauern als Attraktion und aufgrund des abwechslungsreichen Rahmenprogramms besonders beliebt.

Die diesjährige Tour de France verspricht wieder Radsport der Extraklasse. Die berühmt-berüchtigte ‘Tour der Leiden’ lockt rund 15 Millionen Menschen an die Strecke, dazu kommen rund zwei Milliarden Fernsehzuschauer in aller Welt. Nur die Fußball-WM und die Olympischen Spiele ziehen mehr Menschen in ihren Bann. 2012 startet die Tour de France am 30. Juni im belgischen Lüttich mit dem traditionellen Prolog. Am 22. Juli erreichen die Fahrer nach 3.479 Kilometern das Ziel auf dem Pariser Prachtboulevard Champs-Elysees.

“Mit seiner Dynamik und breiten Publikumswirkung passt dieser Sport perfekt zur Marke SKODA”, so Jürgen Stackmann. Radsport ist neben Eishockey der wichtigste Pfeiler der SKODA Sponsoringstrategie. Dazu zählt auch das Engagement für den Rad-Breitensport. So unterstützt der Hersteller beispielsweise die tschechische Veranstaltung ‘Rad fürs Leben’ oder auch den Berliner ‘Velothon’.

National Hockey League’s (NHL) Florida Panthers have become the ninth NHL team to add a sponsor patch to their practice jersey  when they announced an expansion of a three-year partnership with the airline JetBlue, which has become a major player in South Florida and the Caribbean.

In addition, JetBlue added naming rights to the Panthers’ practice facility at Saveology.com Iceplex.

“JetBlue has become a national brand, it’s one of the leading brands in the sky. They’re one of our pillar partners,” said Michael Yormark, president and COO of the Panthers and Sunrise Sports & Entertainment. “We wanted to package the practice jersey with the training facility [naming rights], and we just felt they were the perfect fit for us.”

Although those in the Caribbean and Latin America are more likely to associate ice with boat drinks than hockey, a JetBlue spokesman said the partnership has also been beneficial to the airline in its expansion throughout the region.

“The relationship is larger than hockey. It includes BankAtlantic Center and all of the events that go on every year there,” said Rick Pineda, senior analyst of national sponsorships for JetBlue.

“You have to look at demographic of folks who go to hockey games: families, very opulent, a lot of times looking for travel destinations for vacations,” he said. “This affords us a great opportunity to touch those folks and teach them about some of the destinations we have in the Caribbean.”

As part of the agreement, the JetBlue Tarmac and JetBlue Tailfin will continue to be featured at BankAtlantic Center. The Panthers also will conduct a youth hockey clinic in Puerto Rico later this year, Yormark said.

Cricket Australia has secured a new partnership with Toyota Australia as a gold sponsor and official automotive partner.

Under the new five-year deal, Toyota will support the Australian cricket team, State Cricket Associations and the KFC T20 Big Bash League until mid-2017.

Toyota, the automotive market leader in Australia for the past nine years – will supply more than 100 vehicles, including the all-new Camry Hybrid, to many of Cricket Australia’s coaches and administrators.

The partnership extends Toyota’s official presence in Australian sport beyond its highly successful involvement with the major football codes.

Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager – Commercial, Mike McKenna is pleased to see Australia’s favourite sport teaming up with Australia’s number one selling vehicle brand.

“Australian cricket is thrilled to partner with Toyota, an Australian manufacturer and a business with a strong track record of support for Australian sport.

“Australian cricket is proud to support Toyota’s environmental goals and initially half our State Association and Cricket Australia fleet will be Toyota hybrid vehicles. We will work with Toyota on opportunities to realise an all-hybrid fleet in the coming years.  

“We welcome Toyota into the Australian cricket family and we’re really excited about the opportunities this partnership offers from grassroots to the elite level.

Toyota’s executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor said the company was keen to widen its sponsorship portfolio by forming a progressive association with one of Australia’s most popular sports.

“Toyota has been a long-time and passionate supporter of Australian sport at all levels, and the new cricket partnership is a natural extension of our involvement with football codes enjoyed across the country,” Mr Callachor said.

“Cricket is one of the most played and watched sports in Australia and we are looking forward to another long-term and successful partnership,” he said.

Mr Callachor said the skills, commitment and passion of the Australian cricket team were attributes shared by Toyota and its 4,200 employees in Australia.

“Having the locally built Camry Hybrid and other Toyota vehicles in the driveways of cricket players and officials will support Australian jobs while helping to grow cricket in Australia,” he said.

“They will be driving cars that have been praised for their design, driving dynamics, spacious interior and class-leading power and fuel economy.”

SilverSaver, a precious metals purchasing service of Lawrence, KS based Mass Metal LLC, has announced its primary sponsorship of NASCAR driver Blake Koch beginning with the upcoming Subway Jalapeño 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 6th.

“I’m so pumped to be racing at Daytona next month in the SilverSaver #82 Dodge,” said Koch. “It’s great to have a new sponsor like SilverSaver on board for the race. They are the ones making it possible for me to race and I couldn’t be more thankful for their support.” In 2011, Blake finished 2nd in the Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year battle by one point.

Jeremy Brakenhoff, President and CEO of SilverSaver (Mass Metal LLC) said:”We are excited about our partnership with Blake. It is such a great opportunity for everyone involved. Also, because of this sponsorship, many NASCAR fans across the country will be exposed for the first time to why and how they should be saving physical silver and gold.”

LCL, site a partner of the Tour de France since 1981 and sponsor of the yellow jersey since 1987, has renewed its partnership with ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation) for 5 years.

By renewing its commitment to the ASO until 2018, LCL is celebrating its 25th anniversary of partnership with the yellow jersey. LCL wants to enroll in the continuity of an association entirely in line with its positioning as a national retail banking.

Every summer, LCL participates in the Tour de France, third world sporting event and popular festival free. For many years, LCL vehicles pave the way for the publicity caravan, almost as much as expected by cyclists over 12 million spectators gathered along the roads.

“This partnership reinforces the image of closeness and commitment developed by LCL and supports the growing awareness of the brand in the French banking industry,” commented the facility.

In addition to the Tour de France, the partnership also includes other major races known, such as Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix and the Criterium International, Tour de Picardie and the Criterium du Dauphine.

The German National Ski Association DSV and Conceptum Sport Logistics have agreed a partnership making the logistics company the official partner of the German national ski teams.

All national teams benefit from Conceptum’s many years of experience in cultural project logistics.

“For our athletes, attendants and technicians, trust is the essential factor when it comes to matters of transport and organisation. For the athletes in particular, it is extremely difficult to leave their equipment in the hands of others. Thanks to the excellent professional competence with which Conceptum Sport Logistics handles this complex task, the athletes are able to fully concentrate on their competitions!” says Fritz Hollweck, Head of Skipool and Sponsoring at DSV Leistungssport GmbH.

As of now, Conceptum will be responsible for the transport of the equipment for alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, ski cross and freestyle. With 15 worldwide offices and a perfect logistics network in all relevant places, Conceptum offers direct support to the teams – as for example in Sochi, Russia.

“We are committed to being a partner for the teams and athletes. And as their partner, we provide perfect logistics – anywhere, anytime, across borders and continents, right to the competition site.” says Sebastian Stahl, Managing Director of Conceptum Sport Logistics.

The partnership has initially been fixed for two years, which makes the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, part of the logistic package.

For Sebastian Stahl, the games are a milestone he is really looking forward to: “We are already making preparations, exploring the competition sites, establishing timetables and discussing matters of customs clearance. We are prepared.”

Belgian WTA star Laurence Courtois has become the new amabassador to tennis brand MANTIS for three years and with this have formed a partnership with Benelux based Tennisdream.

Cedric Katsman, account manager for MANTIS in  Benelux and Germany regions, commented; “Laurences connections in Belgium are second to none and I’m looking forward to our partnership with Laurence and Tennisdream.  We see our partnership with Laurence and Tennis dream as a great launch pad for MANTIS in the Benelux area, particularly in Belgium where Laurence will be heavily involved with our developments with racket specialists and tennis players.

Martin Aldridge, founder and  Managing Director of MANTIS Sport, said; “We are delighted to be associated with such a project as Tennisdream. Laurence Courtois(highest ranking WTA 37 singles/32 doubles) has recognised the quality of our products and we see great potential in supporting young tennis talents through Tennis dream. Laurence Courtois will use the MANTIS 300 racket and we are looking forward to working with her for the next three years.”

Team Sky has extended it’s deal to ride Pinarello bikes in 2013.

The team has ridden Pinarello since it began in 2010, with Sky riders collecting 85 victories on the Dogma 2 (road) and Graal (time trial) bikes in that time.

“From a performance perspective we have come a long way in the three years we have been working with Pinarello to date,” said the team’s head of operations Carsten Jeppesen. “Their dedication to performance and servicing the team really sets them apart.

“Together we have developed a number of new models which have performed at the highest level and we aim to continue that trend. We already have some exciting plans for next year on the development front. As a team we are always looking to improve and with Pinarello we have the best possible opportunity to do that.”

Major tyre manufacturer, price Bridgestone has renewed its sponsorship of Copa Sudamericana, anesthetist the South American football cup.

Bridgestone confirmed it has signed on for a second year with the championship that is contested by 47 clubs from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Bridgestone’s title sponsorship is again reflected in the event’s name – Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana.

“We are aware of the passion that awakens football in consumers across Latin America which is aligned to our brand values,” said Matias Borges. sales and marketing director at Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations’ Latin American Tire division. “Winning a football championship is all about performance, so it is an excellent fit to have Bridgestone, a brand that represents performance, to be such a big part of this important event. We earned excellent results last year so we are excited to build on that success and support this important championship once again.”