Twelve of Australia’s leading national sporting bodies are to reject alcohol sponsorship by committing to a major $(AU)25 million (US$25.16 million) government-funded programme.

The government established the scheme to tackle issues of young Australians and binge drinking. Under the terms of the programme, the organisations have agreed to end all existing and future alcohol sponsorship agreements and will receive a share of $(AU)25 million in new Alcopops tax revenues.

The paricipating federations include Football Federation Australia, Swimming Australia, Cycling Australia, Hockey Australia and Athletics Australia.

The Australian Football League (AFL), National Rugby League (NRL) and Cricket Australia have not yet signed up for the programme but are likely to come under pressure to do so.

Alcohol sponsorship is a major source of revenue for these organisations— the AFL recently announced a 10-year extension to its sponsorship deal with Carlton United Brewers (CUB) in an agreement reportedly worth more than $(AU)50 million.

Australia’s Minister for Sport, Kate Lundy, said: “Sport is a really important part of young peoples’ lives and it’s terrific that our elite athletes have come on board to promote a healthy sporting lifestyle in the lead up to the Olympics. This campaign is about tapping into the positive influence sporting clubs have on young people while promoting responsible drinking.”

Swimming Australia CEO, Kevin Neil, said: “Swimming is one of the highest participation sports among young people in this country and we are choosing to take a proactive approach on this issue because it’s our desire to tackle this problem together as a community.”{jcomments on}

Qatar Airways has struck a strategic partnership with the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) with the national airline named official sponsor of the Qatar team taking part in the London Olympics in July-August.

Twelve Qatari athletes are set to compete in the London Games this summer, ailment thus making up the biggest ever contingent of local stars to participate in the world’s biggest sporting event.

The Doha-based carrier will provide a fitting send off to the athletes as they prepare to join thousands of sporting stars from across the globe for the 30th Olympiad in the British capital. 

The Qatari athletes are, viagra cheap between them, competing in four key disciplines – shooting, swimming, table tennis and athletics – during the two-week event between July 27 and August 12.

The partnership was signed by QOC general secretary Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and Qatar Airways chief executive officer Akbar al-Baker at a press conference held at the QOC headquarters.

Sheikh Saoud expressed his delight at Qatar Airways becoming a key sponsor of the Qatar Olympic team for the forthcoming London Games. 

“I would like to express my thanks to Qatar Airways, like other leading national companies, in supporting the sports sector in our country in a big way,” said Sheikh Saoud.

“As we meet with Qatar Airways today, preparing to head to London with our athletes, this sponsorship will further demonstrate that one of the biggest companies in Qatar is committed to backing our athletes to achieve great success next month.”

Akbar al-Baker said that supporting the Qatar Olympic Team fitted well in the airline’s overall strategy to back key sporting events, especially those that focus on local talent.

“In just over a month, 12 young men and women from our country will compete for national glory in London,” said al-Baker.

“The global spotlight will be on the British capital during two weeks of gruelling competition that will see our talented athletes take on the world’s best. The nation should take pride backing our sporting stars and cheer them on. At Qatar Airways, we are delighted to lend our support to Team Qatar promising to give them a flying send off to the world’s largest sporting event.”

He added: “As the nation’s sporting ambassadors, I am sure they will demonstrate the high spirit that they have embraced, having worked hard towards selection for this great tournament. Dedication, determination and commitment are what our athletes have focused on through years of training and sacrifice to be the best in what they do.

“On behalf of Qatar Airways, I tell them to enjoy the moment, cherish the moment and live the moment. We look forward to flying them to London.”

Qatar Airways operates five flights each day between Doha and London Heathrow, together with 10 services each week to Manchester in northern England, offering two key gateways and great travel options to the UK.

Maybank, there Malaysia’s regional financial leaders, medicine have become the title sponsors of a new Asian Development Tour (ADT) tournament in Indonesia.

The move is part of the bank’s commitment to support the development of sports across the region

The Bii Maybank Asian Development Tour will be launched at the Imperial Golf Club in Jakarta from July 12 to 14, denture 2012 with a total prize fund of US$50,000.

It will be the first time Maybank are sponsoring a tournament on the burgeoning ADT, which was introduced in 2010 as a secondary circuit in Asia to provide playing opportunities for rising stars to hone their skills before they feature on the elite Asian Tour.

Maybank are already involved with professional golf at the highest level in Asia through their successful sponsorship of the US$2.5mil Maybank Malaysian Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

Mohd Adam Wee Abdullah, Chief Marketing Officer of Maybank said: “We are proud to begin a new association with the ADT as we share the same goals with the Asian Tour to help in the growth the game across the region.

“Following the success of the Maybank Malaysian Open, which we sponsored since 2006, we felt the timing was right to invest in the game at the development level, hence the birth of our new ADT event in Indonesia.

“Our extensive business presence across South East Asia presents a wonderful opportunity for Maybank to further expand the golf sponsorship programme and we are excited at the prospect of being involved in grooming new champions on the ADT.”

At the end of every season, the ADT rewards the top-three finishers on the Order of Merit with cards on the Asian Tour for the following year.

Watford FC has announced the happy egg company as its new Official Club Sponsor for the 2012/13 season.

The happy egg logo will feature on the Hornets’ new Puma produced replica kit, after the UK’s largest free-range egg brand signed a one-year agreement with the club.

The fit between the Hornets and the happy egg company is an appropriate one as the company has been based in Hertfordshire for many years, initially as Deans Foods and more latterly as Noble Foods.

The Dean Family started the business back in the 1920s – packing and selling a small amount of eggs into local grocery stores and supermarkets in the south.

They had a clear vision and did not just see themselves as egg packers but as innovative egg marketers. It was not long before the business expanded and began to acquire other companies.

The happy egg company is just one of a number of brands operating under Noble Foods.

Watford’s new 2012/13 replica kits will feature a unique QR code on the sponsor’s logo, once scanned via a mobile device, it will link straight to www.thehappyegg.co.uk – we believe this is a first for a sponsor on a football shirt in the UK.

The partnership between the happy egg company and the Hornets is already a well-established one.

Various awards at the club’s End of Season Dinner over recent years have been sponsored by the happy egg company and they have also offered strong matchday support by taking out sponsorship packages.

Raj Athwal, Watford FC’s Commercial Director, said: “This is a real partnership which sets Watford FC at the forefront of shirt sponsorship as demonstrated by the QR code concept.

Huddersfield Town has today announced a partnership with one of the UK’s leading Outdoor media owners, vcialis 40mg CBS Outdoor.

CBS Outdoor, part of the CBS Corporation a mass media company spanning five continents, has become the second new business to join Town after their promotion to the Championship following in the footsteps of Northern Commercials. 

Town’s latest business partnership will see CBS Outdoor help the Terriers promote, market and sell Season Cards ahead of the 2012/13 season through an advertising campaign on local buses. 

Town’s Advertising Manager, Mark Jacobs, who will head up the partnership for Town, is pictured alongside CBS Outdoor’s Paul Taylor on one of the First buses which will be sporting Town’s Season Card advertisement – ‘Next stop…Championship” 

Town’s Commercial Director, Sean Jarvis, said: “I believe this deal portrays the way the Club is moving and how our promotion to the Championship has helped us attract a globally recognised business such as CBS Outdoor.

“Promoting and selling Season Cards for our upcoming season in the Championship is a massive objective for us and we believe with the help of CBS Outdoor, we will be able to achieve our goal and have the stadium bouncing every match day, full of Town fans.”

He added: “I am delighted to welcome Paul and CBS Outdoor to our family of partners and hope that the partnership will prosper in seasons to come.”

Paul Taylor, CBS Outdoor Account Executive, commented: “CBS Outdoor is delighted to have Huddersfield Town on board. We are excited about giving Huddersfield Town the platform to drive awareness of their Season Card, in addition to promoting the benefits of bus and rail advertising to other businesses throughout Kirklees.”

Chinese biotech company, Zhen-Ao Group, has partnered with the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), having signed a two-year contract.

Zhen-Ao Group is a leading developer of nucleic acid products and natural medicines.The company has had contemplated a major weightlifting sponsorship since being introduced to the federation at the 2011 IWF Junior World Championships in Malaysia.

Zhen-Ao Group has been a partner of the Chinese Olympic Committee since 2001 and is the official health supplement supplier of the Chinese Olympic Team.

Under the terms of the deal, Zhen-Ao Group’s nutritional supplements have been endorsed by the Federation and tested according to the World Anti-Doping Association standards.

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Watch and timing technology company, Casio has become a major sponsor of Ken Gushi  and will back his team, the G-Shock-Kumho Tires Drift in Formula Drift Asia 2012.

The sponsorship will begin at the next leg of the series which will take place at the end of the month.

Casio Singapore Managing Director, Hideki, Takaya, said the company thinks Ken Gushi and his team would be a great partner because they are “displaying abolute tenacity to beat the odds.”

“We have strong faith that he will be able to outdo himself in this year’s race and Casio is glad to be a partner in his climb to the top spot on the podium,” he said.

A specially-designed Casio G-Scock DW-6900 watch will be released to mark the sponsorship.

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Grand Slam tennis champion and Olympic gold medallist Rafael Nadal has joined PokerStars, lending his support to the world’s largest online poker site.

Known globally for his fierce competitive spirit, the 26-year-old Spanish superstar is keen to learn the game of poker. Through mentorship with PokerStars pros and playing online, Rafa will draw on many of the skills he uses to such great effect on the tennis court to improve his game one step at a time.

“It’s no secret that I love to compete and try my very best in everything, whether that’s tennis, golf or video games,” Nadal said. “When I discovered the game of poker, I chose to join PokerStars because they understand what it takes to be the best and associate themselves with the qualities of champions.  I’m very happy to be working with them.”

Rafa will play poker in spare moments this summer while he concentrates on his tennis. In the Autumn, he will be able to devote more time to poker and to representing PokerStars in online tournaments, in advertising campaigns and at charity events.  

“Rafa Nadal represents all that is great about competition – the mix of talent, intellect, dedication and mental strength that you find in champions in every sport,” said Mark Scheinberg, PokerStars Chairman of the Board.  “We are proud to have Rafa as an ambassador for the brand and excited at the opportunity to help him enjoy and improve his game.”

Rafa joins a stable of elite athletes who have chosen poker as their “other game” and who play with PokerStars, including other Olympic medallists.

He will play a key role in introducing new players to the game of poker, particularly in his native Spain where online poker is surging in popularity following the recent awarding of government licenses to operate online poker.  

The Buffalo Bills have announced an extension on their partnership with Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop.

As part of the three year agreement, capsule Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop remains the “Official Coffee of the Buffalo Bills.” Tim Hortons will continue their very popular in-game promotion, The Monday Morning Blitz. With this promotion, if the Bills score two or more touchdowns in a home game fans can take their game day program coupon to any Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop restaurant in New York State the Monday following the game to receive a free medium coffee.

“Since introducing the Tim Hortons brand to Buffalo more than 26 years ago, we have worked hard to earn the loyalty of western New York residents and become the hometown coffee,” said Mike Meilleur, Senior Vice President Operations, U.S. “We are thrilled to be continuing our partnership with the Buffalo Bills again this year, and to have the opportunity to serve fans a great cup of coffee while they cheer on the Bills.”

“Our continued partnership with Tim Hortons gives Bills fans the opportunity to receive great tasting coffee with fun promotions and incentives,” said Bruce Popko, Bills Senior Vice President of Business Development. “Our gameday promotions give fans the special opportunity to continue their gameday experience and celebrate the Bills success Monday morning with a great tasting cup of Tim Hortons always fresh coffee.” 

Tim Hortons is one of the largest publicly-traded restaurant chains in North America based on market capitalization. Operating in the quick service segment of the restaurant industry.