Luxury watch brand Longines, has been announced as Glasgow 2014 first major sponsor being unveiled as official timekeeper for the Commonwealth Games.

The Swiss firm becomes the Games’ first tier one partner in a deal thought to be worth £5m and will look after timing, scoring and results throughout the Games. Organisers are required to secure £100m in commercial revenue.

The Swatch Group-owned brand has history of sports involvement, having provided timers used at the first Modern Olympics in 1896 and partnering with several Commonwealth Games. It has also formed partnerships in equestrian sports, the French Open, the Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, the Alpine Ski World Cup and World Championships and the World Cup and World Championships in Archery.

Glasgow 2014 chairman Lord Smith said of the partnership: “Longines has a rich heritage of world-class sporting associations dating back more than a century and we are delighted to announce such a prestigious brand as our first partner.

“This is an important milestone for Glasgow 2014 and the fact we are sharing it with such an excellent global brand underlines the world-class proposition that is Glasgow 2014.

“Timing, scoring and results is absolutely critical to delivering an outstanding, athlete-centred, sport-focused Games, and we look forward to working closely with Longines.”

Longines president Walter von Kanel added: “Longines is proud to be an official partner and official timekeeper of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and delighted to be the first partner.

“Thanks to our long history in the world of sport, Longines is considered as an essential partner to an event which embodies our brand’s values, namely elegance, tradition and performance.

“We look forward to working with Glasgow 2014 to deliver a superb event with a lasting legacy for Scotland.”

Dunkin’ Donuts has announced it has entered into a three-year promotional partnership with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

The two-time championship quarterback will be featured in Dunkin’ Donuts advertisements starting during this year’s football season. Manning will promote the chain’s coffee and limited time offerings, the quick service chain said in a release.

“We couldn’t be more excited to work with the New York football legend that is Eli Manning,” Tom Manchester, Dunkin’ Donuts’ vice president of field marketing, said in the release “Dunkin’ Donuts has a long and successful history of working with the New York Giants, and we are thrilled to extend that relationship by working with Eli over the next three years.”

The regional adds will be run in the New York state counties of Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester; in the New Jersey counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren; and in Connecticut’s Fairfield County. More than 1,500 of Dunkin’ Donuts’ 7,015 domestic units are in those areas.

“Dunkin’ Donuts has been part of my daily routine for many years, so I’m really looking forward to working with the brand,” Manning said in the release. “Dunkin’ Donuts and the Giants are both well known for their passionate fans. This partnership is sure to keep people in the New York Tri-state area running on Dunkin’ all year long.”

The FIA has extended its partnership with the Yokohama Rubber Company to supply the control tyre for the next three seasons of the FIA World Touring Car Championships (WTCC): 2013, generic 2014 and 2015.

The Japan-based manufacturer has been WTCC official tyre supplier since 2006, sickness therefore the extended appointment completes a full decade of Advan tyres in the World Championship.

WTCC General Manager Marcello Lotti, said: “All I can say is: congratulations to Yokohama! Since they began to supply the control tyre, they have always been extremely supporting to the championship. Firstly as a competent and reliable technical partner, but also for their significant effort in promoting the championship worldwide, which helped us to establish events in crucial countries such as Japan, China and USA. To have them on our side for three more years is an invaluable benefit.”

English Championshipc club, Sheffield Wednesday FC, have announced that Gilder Group have extended their shirt sponsorship deal with the club into the 2012-13 season.

The deal means that Gilder Group, opting to promote the Honda brand this time around, will be on the brand new Owls home shirt for the club’s Championship campaign.

It will also further cement the successful association of Gilder Group and Sheffield Wednesday, which was initially established last season with the unique ‘Supporting Sheffield’ initiative.

Garry Scotting, Gilder Group CEO, said: “Following a successful season last term, we are delighted to continue our sponsorship into what we hope will be another of the same. As the club continue to work closely with the local business community, they are clearly moving in the right direction both on and off the pitch.”

Gilder Honda Brand Director, John Scotting added: “We are really pleased to be on board for what we expect to be another successful campaign. Last season, it was apt that Volkswagen introduced the new up! city car just as Wednesday gained promotion. With a bit of luck, Honda’s mantra ‘The Power of Dreams’ will play a part this time around.”

Gilder Honda currently operate local dealerships in Sheffield, Rotherham and Chesterfield and have proud status as one of the key players in the multi-million pound car industry.

SWFC chairman Milan Mandaric commented: “I am delighted that Gilder Group and Sheffield Wednesday will continue this proud partnership.

“Our promotion to the Championship will significantly enhance the brand awareness of all the club’s sponsors and in particular Gilder Honda, whose name will appear on our home shirt throughout what we all hope will be another successful season.”

Andy Daykin, Commercial Director of Sheffield Wednesday, said: “It is fantastic that the Gilder Group, in partnership with a world-renowned brand in Honda, have maintained their significant sponsorship with the club for a second year.

“The Gilder Group have been synonymous with football in Sheffield for many years and their chairman, Garry Scotting, genuinely believes in the positive influence the game has on the lives of those living in the city.”

Huddersfield Town FC have announced that Yorkshire hotel chain Cedar Court Hotels is continuing its partnership for a second season.

The large hotel chain, which boasts Huddersfield’s only 4 star hotel, was the destination of choice for both Town players and opposition players last season. It also provides fantastic hospitality for Town supporters coming up to watch the Terriers. 

Huddersfield Town’s Commercial Director Sean Jarvis, said: “We’ve enjoyed our relationship with Cedar Court and can’t wait to continue the partnership. They provide a quality facility not only to stop over at but also to   hold functions;  we’ve held many there last season, from Patron’s meetings through to the Pedal for Pounds get-together’s and we can’t recommend them highly enough.

“There are also some exciting events being planned for next season there so watch this space.”

John Horvath, Group Hotel Director of Cedar Court, added: “We’ve been a supporter of Huddersfield Town for many years so it’s great to be able to announce the continuation of our partnership. Town are a family club with a great tradition so we feel like we have a lot in common. They well deserved their success last season and we’re going to be right behind them as they make their mark in the Championship.”

Comstock Mortgage has announced a partnership with the Sacramento Capitals World Team Tennis as a sponsor for the upcoming 2012 season.

The Sacramento Capitals have been a part of the neighborhood for 27 years.

Like the Sacramento Capitals, allergy Comstock Mortgage takes pride in their support of the local community, cialis making the sponsorship an excellent fit for both. The season begins July 12th and runs through July 28th. Comstock Mortgage looks forward to participating in the festivities and fun this year at the Sacramento Capitals!

In addition to this year’s sponsorship of the Sacramento Capitals, Comstock Mortgage is a loyal supporter of the Three Stages in Folsom and enjoys finding diverse ways to reach out to the community through various venues.

“Our promise at Comstock Mortgage is not just to provide quality service to our clients. It is to reinvest in the people and places that make our community a special place to live.” said Troy Bird, shareholder at Comstock Mortgage.

Comstock Mortgage is a California Department of Real Estate (DRE) licensed broker with more than 20 years experience in all areas of home loan financing as both a Mortgage Banker and Mortgage Broker.

Loan company, ambulance Wonga, will no longer sponsor a group of sites used by Football League clubs.

The high profile payday lender has come in for criticism from a small secton of football supporters over its association with the website which hosts sites for lower league clubs.

But according to Wonga, which prefers to be called a short term lender, the campaign led by Northampton supporter Bob Ward had nothing to with the deal which came to a natural end with the last season.

The deal, which will now be taken over by credit card firm Capital One, is entirely separate from Wonga’s higher profile deals as main sponsors of Blackpool in the English championship and Hearts in the Scottish league.

A spokesman for Wonga said: “We had a small advertising deal with the Football League which ended at the end of the 2011/2012 football season.

“We will continue to assess all opportunities and sponsorship deals for next season. We remain committed to our Blackpool and Hearts sponsorships.”

British racket manufacturer Mantis will be the Official Racket Partner to the 2012 Subway World Squash Masters Championships in Birmingham.

Mantis will now be used by professionals on the tour, try including rising British player, malady Eddie Charlton and the UK and European number one, unhealthy under 13, Elise Lazarus.

Shaun Crampton, Sales and Marketing Manager at Mantis said: “We are delighted that Mantis has been appointed the Official Racket to the 2012 Subway World Masters Squash Championships.

“This follows being the official racket of both the Allam British Open and the British Grand Prix in Manchester and we at Mantis are very proud to be associated with the best tournaments in the squash world.”

Tournament Director, Chris Nutley followed Crampton’s enthusiasm for the deal and said: “It’s fantastic to have Mantis involved with this truly global sporting and social event.

“Players from across the world, playing in categories ranging from Over 35’s to Over 80’s will be vying for the prestigious titles and it promises to be a fantastic atmosphere and week of squash.”

The Championships will be played between the 20-27 July and will see over 750 players from 45 countries going head to head to win world titles.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) and JR Duty Free has announced a new partnership with the retail chain becoming a sponsor of the New Zealand Olympic team.

To celebrate its sponsorship, JR Duty Free has unveiled a limited edition supporters’ T-shirt through its stores at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports. The T-shirt has been produced by Rodd & Gunn and is retailing for NZ$41.00 tax free. 

In addition, the travel retailer has launched a Facebook page in the run-up to the Olympics where New Zealanders can keep in touch with young Olympians, watch candid interviews with the athletes and offer words of support. 

“JR Duty Free is 100% behind the New Zealand Olympic team achieving their best at the 2012 London Olympic Games and our sponsorship will contribute essential funding towards assisting the team in going for gold,” said JR Duty Free General Manager for New Zealand and Australia Kate Gorman. 

“The Olympians we are supporting demonstrate a huge commitment to both their sport and country, and JR Duty Free is proud to be associated with such an inspiring group of young New Zealanders.” 

New Zealand Olympic Committee Secretary General Kereyn Smith commented: “The partnership between JR Duty Free and the New Zealand Olympic Committee is a natural synergy as both organisations are passionate about helping Kiwi athletes achieve their personal best at the 2012 London Olympic Games. 

“We would encourage all New Zealand sporting fans to wear the official Olympic supporters T-shirt from JR Duty Free to show their support for our athletes, whether they are armchair fans at home or travelling to the games.”