German automobile manufacturer BMW will continue as the official car of the Irish Open Irish Open for the next three years.

The 2012 Irish Open will be played in Northern Ireland for the first time in almost 60 years when the iconic links of Royal Portrush hosts a tournament which includes several Major winners, medstore most notably the current Open and US Open Champions, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy.

Peter Walker, General Manager, Sports Marketing, BMW (UK Ltd), said: “BMW is delighted to extend its association with the Irish Open for a further three years. We are all excited at the prospect of the event being played at such a spectacular course and in front of some of the largest and most knowledgeable crowds in golf.

“As well as the Irish Open, BMW’s long-term commitment to The European Tour can be seen by its title sponsorship of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, the BMW International Open in Germany and the recently announced BMW Masters in China. In addition, the company also supports 20 tournaments globally with ‘Official Car’ partnerships and was an Official Partner of The 2010 Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor Resort.”

James Finnigan, Commercial Director of the Irish Open, added: “BMW is an outstanding long-term Partner of The European Tour in general and the Irish Open in particular. We are delighted to be able to extend our arrangement with BMW through until 2014 and to know that the players, officials and VIPs will have the best possible service during the tournament.”

The British & Irish Lions have announced that Qantas, ampoule Australia’s premium airline, remedy has been appointed as Official Airline for their tour to Australia in 2013.

The partnership will make history as the 2013 Lions squad and coaching staff are flown to Hong Kong for The Lions’ first match in the Far East against the Barbarians.

Qantas will then fly the team and support crew onto Australia for six regional fixtures, viagra 60mg culminating in three highly anticipated Test matches against the Qantas Wallabies.

Paul Yankson, Qantas regional general manager of UK and Ireland, said: “Qantas is pleased to sponsor The British & Irish Lions for the first time.

“We’ll be developing packages to ensure all the fans can travel to support their team in Asia and in Australia.”

Qantas Airways will join Thomas Pink and Rhino as well as current sponsors HSBC – Principal Partner, Adidas – Official Kit Supplier and FirstCape who have all signed for a second consecutive Tour in the commercial family of Lions’ Partners, Sponsors and Suppliers for the Tour to Australia next year.

British & Irish Lions tour manager, Andy Irvine, agreed this is a great partnership for The Lions from a player perspective.

“The comfort of the players on flights is vital to us, as the rigours of a Lions Tour mean that players are often out on a training pitch shortly after landing,” he said.

“They have to be refreshed and ready to go, and we know that the quality of operation that Qantas provide means we will arrive in great condition.”

Die Krombacher Brauerei Bernhard Schadeberg GmbH & Co. KG aus Kreuztal-Krombachist neuer Sponsor-Partner des Basketball-Vereins Phoenix Hagen. Die offiziellen Vertreterder Basketballer aus Hagen und der Krombacher Brauerei haben sich in Bezug auf einumfangreiches Werbe- und Marketingpaket verständigt. Der Vertrag hat eine mehrjährigeLaufzeit. Beide Parteien sehen eine hohe Kontinuität als Basis einer erfolgreichenPartnerschaft gewährleistet.

Der Vertragsabschluss ermöglicht Krombacher umfangreiche Werbemaßnahmenund -möglichkeiten bei sämtlichen Heim- und Freundschaftsspielen der Feuervögel.Neben der Werbung auf TV-relevanten Drehbanden stehen der Krombacher Brauereidiverse werbliche Maßnahmen im Innen- und Außenbereich der Heimspielstätte zurVerfügung. Die Einbindung dieses Engagements in Promotion- und Presse-Maßnahmenist Vertragsgegenstand ebenso wie die Logopräsenz auf der Homepage und Drucksachendes Vereins. Weiter wird es die Krombacher Produkte aus den Bereichen Bier undBiermischgetränke sowie Krombacher´s Fassbrause bei den Heimspielen im Ausschankgeben.

„Wir sind sehr froh, dass sich die Krombacher Brauerei als Sponsor zahlreicher Highlightsim Spitzensport für ein Engagement bei Phoenix Hagen entschieden hat”, kommentiertPhoenix-Geschäftsführer Oliver Herkelmann die neue Partnerschaft. „Der Vertrag mit derführenden nationalen Premiumbrauerei ist ein Zeichen, dass wir für die Zukunft setzenwollen. Hier sehen wir die Langfristigkeit und Kompetenz, die wir brauchen, wenn wir unseresportliche Wettbewerbsfähigkeit sichern und ausbauen wollen.”

Dr. Franz-J. Weihrauch, Pressesprecher der Krombacher Brauerei, freut sich auf den neuenPartner: „Die Krombacher Brauerei ist Deutschlands bekanntester Sportsponsor und verstehtsich seit jeher als Partner des Sports. Phoenix Hagen hat eine tolle Fankultur und dasPotenzial, im deutschen Basketball eine gute Rolle zu spielen. Wir freuen uns darauf, mitunserem Engagement dieses Vorhaben zu unterstützen.”

English League One side AFC Bournemouth have secured a new shirt sponsor in the form of Energy Consulting Group for the 2012/13 season.

AFC Bournemouth’s current shirt sponsor, Focal Point Fires Plc, has agreed to terminate its shirt sponsorship contract two years early, at the request of the club, in order to facilitate the financial injection from the EC Group.

AFC Bournemouth commercial director Rob Mitchell said, “The club is very grateful to Focal Point Fires for the support they have shown the club over the years. We appreciate the understanding and assistance which the board of directors of Focal Point Fires has shown in enabling the club to take advantage of the investment opportunity provided by the EC Group, which we are sure, will be to the long term benefit of the club, its staff, supporters and stakeholders.”

The Energy Consulting Group logo will be displayed on all three kits next season, including a new away design.

The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) have announced that they have secured a kit sponsorship for Team Zimbabwe with Japanese manufacturer Mizuno for the London 2012 Olympics.

The kit sponsorship deal, valued at over US$100 000, covers competition and out of competition kit.

ZOC and Mizuno entered into the agreement last week, chief executive Anna Mguni said.

She also said that ZOC managed to secure the Japanese company as the official sponsor largely supported by the standing relationship between the National Athletic Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) and Mizuno, as well as the positive relations fostered by the NOC and the Corporation over the years.

Founded in 1906, Mizuno Corporation has a long tradition of supporting athletes in several African countries including the likes of Zimbabweans Brian Dzingai and Ngoni Makusha.

“ZOC are impressed by Mizuno Corporation’s plans for supporting Team Zimbabwe.

“In fact, ZOC are naturally delighted to have Mizuno Corporation as the official kit sponsor for Team Zimbabwe.

“Mizuno have an enthusiasm and energy for Team Zimbabwe which complements our own attitude: we are looking forward to an exciting year which will hopefully culminate in a great performance for Team Zimbabwe at London 2012.

“Zimbabwean athletes are no strangers to the Mizuno brand and we welcome this development which is part of the ongoing drive to support and resource the team adequately,” Mguni said.

The team’s kit comprises specific competition kit for the athletes, tracksuits, casual shirts, caps, trainers and kit bags.

As a recognised sportswear supplier, Mguni said, Mizuno will be permitted to brand the kit but only in accordance with the stringent International Olympic Committee branding and kit specification regulations.

The athletes will receive their kit on arrival at the Olympic Village in London for the 2012 Olympic Games, which are set to run from July 27 to August 12.

Mguni also expressed gratitude to Faithwear who provided part sponsorship of the team kit for Team Zimbabwe for the last two Olympics in Athens, Greece, in 2004 and Beijing, China, in 2008.

“Opportunities still exist for Zimbabwean corporates to collaborate with ZOC. We are yet to secure the ceremonial kit and look forward to support from a Zimbabwean entity to cover this important aspect of team attire.

“We encourage the nation to support Team Zimbabwe,” she said.

Killik & Co, drugs UK’s leading independent financial services group, see has become the title sponsor of the upcoming England v Barbarians match after a new deal with the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

The Killik Cup match on Sunday 27 May 2012 will be Stuart Lancaster’s first game as permanent Head Coach and will serve as a great preview of the team to tour South Africa in June. Lancaster will name his squad for the fixture on RFU.com today at 3.30pm.

Killik & Co have sponsored Barbarians games held at Twickenham since December 2009 and were Title Sponsor for the last game, abortion Barbarians v Australia, in November 2011.

Paul Killik, Senior Partner, Killik & Co, said: “It is wonderful for us to be associated with the Rugby Football Union, especially at this exciting time under new management. We have been long supporters of the ethos and spirit of the Barbarians games and we are delighted to continue our title sponsorship of this prestigious event with the RFU.”

Sophie Goldschmidt, Chief Commercial Officer Rugby Football Union added: “Sophie Goldschmidt, Chief Commercial Officer Rugby Football Union said, “We are very pleased to welcome Killik & Co as a partner for what is always an entertaining match. It will be the first chance to see many of the players that England will be taking to South Africa, as the team looks to build on a very positive RBS 6 Nations.”

The IRONMAN series has announced a global sponsorship deal with Aquadraat Sports that designates it as the Official Water of IRONMAN.

In addition to providing water for IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 races around the world, Aquadraat Sports will also be the title sponsor of the IRONMAN U.S. Championship taking place in metropolitan New York and New Jersey on Aug. 11, 2012. The inaugural Aquadraat Sports IRONMAN U.S. Championship will include nearly 3,000 athletes from 46 states and 41 countries, nearly 5,000 volunteers and more than 200,000 total spectators, in one of the largest media markets in the world.

“We are excited to have Aquadraat Sports as a partner across IRONMAN and 70.3 events,” said Erik Vervloet, Chief Marketing Officer of IRONMAN. “Water is arguably the most crucial product on our race courses and having consistency at events around the world will be good for our athletes.”

Aquadraat Sports, with the company slogan Water for Life, is known for producing one of the most unique waters on the planet. Quickly absorbed into the body’s cells and carrying extra oxygen, Aquadraat enhances cellular respiration and supports the body’s ability to meet demands for increased energy production. Aquadraat has been shown to increase exercise capacity and to stimulate an overall feeling of well-being.

“As we expand our footprint globally and launch Aquadraat Sports in the United States, we want to align ourselves with athletes who can directly benefit from consuming our product,” said Marcel ter Stege, Chief Executive Officer of Aquadraat Sports. “There is no tougher event than IRONMAN, and Aquadraat gives triathletes the fuel their bodies need to develop and sustain peak levels of fitness and health. Top IRONMAN competitor Yvonne van Vlerken has been drinking Aquadraat for years and her fantastic results speak for themselves.”

Vector Offshore Racing, the official team of Vector International, has announced UK reality tv show Made In Chelsea stars Spencer Matthews, Jamie Laing and Hugo Taylor as Official Ambassadors.

The news comes fresh off the back of the team’s launch announcement last week, in which Vector International outlined its ambitious racing, sales and bespoke iRace programme plans. Since then, the team has gone on to build an audience of over 10,000 Twitter followers in only its first week in operation.

Vector Offshore Racing is uniquely positioned as the world’s leading luxury lifestyle powerboat team through its bold racing plans, international dealership network and unique iRace programme, making it a natural fit for the Made In Chelsea stars.

Made in Chelsea is a reality television programme that follows the lives of a group of wealthy Chelsea-based 20-somethings. Ex ICAP Forward Foreign Exchange Broker & Entrepreneur; Spencer Matthews, 23 is the protagonist of the E4 hit show, now in its third series. His affable nature has helped draw in over 1.3 million viewers on a weekly basis. Businessman Hugo Taylor, 24, is the show’s work hard and play hard character, and the Chelsea crowd’s go-to man for Chelsea’s hottest new venues. Jamie Laing, 22, is heir to the McVities fortune.

Matthews, who recently trained with Vector Offshore Racing in a pre-season shakedown race, where the team finished 2nd, was delighted to have been given the opportunity to become an Official Ambassador of the team.

Spencer Matthews, Official Ambassador of Vector Offshore Racing, said, commenting: “I trained with Tom (Montgomery-Swan) and the team recently, and ever since I went for a spin, I realised I was hooked – there can be no other sport that matches powerboating for sheer personal excitement. It’s not just the race team and retail craft that attracted the boys and I, but the strong lifestyle element to the brand, being the leaders in this space, we wanted to make sure we were part of it! I’m delighted we were approached to join the Vector family, and we look forward to supporting the team in every way we can.”

Tom Montgomery-Swan, Global Sales and Marketing Director commented: “Last week we announced our bold plans to an unsuspecting powerboating public. This week I am delighted to be able to follow that up by confirming three of British television’s current hottest properties, Spencer Matthews, Jamie Laing and Hugo Taylor, as Official Ambassadors of Vector Offshore Racing. The three guys fit the Vector brand well; they are young, enthusiastic and all have a taste for an exclusive, lifestyle property, which is exactly what Vector is. I am looking forward to welcoming them onboard in between their hectic filming schedules.”

Vector Offshore Racing is unique in that it offers the iRace programme which allows members of the public to participate as passengers in Professional Racing and World Record Events.

Viva Kuwait, asthma a mobile telecommunications service provider, asthma has been announced as a Official Sponsor of Real Madrid Football Club.

Real Madrid won several championships, including nine Champions League trophies, three Intercontinental Cups, and 32 La Liga titles. The club was named as the ‘Best Club of the 20th Century’ by Fifa.

Most recently, Real Madrid won the Spanish La Liga title with a 4-1 win over Mallorca to give them a record-breaking 100 points this season.

Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Badran, chief executive officer, Viva Kuwait, commented on the deal: “The sponsorship demonstrates our commitment towards youth and all football fans by supporting their passion for sports and being the first in Kuwait to sponsor this world renowned football club.”

“Since the launch of the company’s operations in Kuwait, Viva has supported sports in many forms including its sponsorship of the Kuwaiti National Football Club,” he added.