Bridgestone Europe will continue its sponsorship of the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup events for the 2012/13 season.

Starting in October, viagra the company will be a main partner at 35 World Cup Alpine Ski events in eight European countries: Austria, viagra buy Finland, pill France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland. As in the previous season, Bridgestone will supplement its sponsorship branding package on start huts, gate flags and athlete singlets with high-visibility track-side signage and local marketing programs.

“As well as building up the image of Bridgestone winter tires, the Alpine Skiing World Cup event sponsorship has further strengthened Bridgestone’s growing winter tire business,” said Tomohiro Fukuda, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Bridgestone Europe.

Results from Bridgestone’s first season in the Alpine Ski World Cup are said to have exceeded Bridgestone’s expectations in media coverage, business networking opportunities and marketing activation, and have given its range of premium winter tires higher point of sale impact.

“This partnership has built a clear connection between high-performance Alpine Skiing World Cup and Bridgestone winter tires,” Fukuda said. “This dynamic sport displays the same performance values as our products: control, balance, safety and grip.”

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation and Dorna have announced AirAsia as the new naming rights sponsor of the 2012 Australian MotoGP Grand Prix in an exciting title rights sponsorship deal.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Westacott, said the new alliance would help to deliver another world-class Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix to Victoria.

“We are delighted to be partnering with international airline AirAsia as the title sponsor of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. It couldn’t be a better time to get involved with what is set to be yet another blockbuster event at Phillip Island,” he said.

AirAsia, Asia’s leading low cost airline, was established with the dream of making international travel accessible for everyone. For 11 years AirAsia has broken travel norms around the globe and has swiftly risen to become a business leader. 

With a route network that spans more than 20 countries, AirAsia has been voted World’s Best Low-Cost Airline for 3 years running at the prestigious Skytrax Awards thanks to the excellent service it offers thousands of passengers each day.

AirAsia Chief Executive Officer, Tony Fernandes, said the close relationship with MotoGP presents a great opportunity for AirAsia to expand brand awareness within Australia and internationally.

“Our partnership with MotoGP is further strengthened through the signing of this agreement. Our airline believes in MotoGP because it allows us to expand our brand awareness and also helps us reach a young audience who are going to use our broad range of services. Our involvement in the MotoGP World Championship increases every year, as AirAsia has also been involved in the sponsorship of teams and riders, demonstrating our belief in motorcycle racing, a thrilling sport with millions of fans around the world.”

With the involvement of AirAsia, the 2012 AirAsia Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix is bound to push excitement levels to the limit, both on and off the circuit.

by Ismail Uddin

Maxifuel, check a UK endurance brand from sport nutrition experts Maxinutrition, has announced a new deal to become the official sports nutrition partner to the UK’s biggest cycling event: The Tour of Britain, which also includes The Halfords Tour Series and The Tour Rides.

The Hemel Hempstead-based company will provide amateur riders with individually-tailored nutritional support to complement their lifestyle, training and racing schedules as well as support professional participants and race enthusiasts through sampling opportunities at the various events. 

The Tour of Britain, taking place from 9-16 September, is the country’s largest free-to-spectate live sporting event attracting over a million spectators to the roadside annually, while over 10,000 amateur cyclists take part in the mass participation Tour Rides based on Tour of Britain stage routes. 

The Halfords Tour Series is a city centre cycling race series, taking place throughout May and June. It will see ten teams of five highly tuned professional cyclists engage in a daily one hour competition of intense, fast paced, attacking racing to become the overall champions of the series. Maxifuel supported Team UK Youth are one of the ten teams vying to be Series Champions in 2012.

Senior Sponsorship & PR Manager for Maxifuel, Mark Morgan said: “We are delighted to announce this pivotal partnership with The Tour of Britain and are relishing the opportunity to make a nutritional impact on such an exciting and vibrant series of cycling events. Following our recent sponsorship of the UK Youth Pro Cycling team this deal further exemplifies Maxifuel’s commitment to cycling.” 

Tour of Britain Race Director Mick Bennett added: “I’d like to welcome Maxifuel to The Tour family of events, and we look forward to working together in what is a very important year for British sport. I am sure spectators and our Tour Ride participants will be looking forward to exploring Maxifuel’s range of products with the aim of helping them to improve their performance.”

Maxifuel also supports other events, teams and athletes such as Team UK Youth, British Triathlon Federation, GB & England Hockey, Badminton England and GB athletes including, Stuart Hayes (triathlon) Kate Dennison (pole vault), Chris Walker- Hebborn (swimming) and Andrew Steele (athletics).

by Ismail Uddin

Building society, The Nottingham, has been unveiled as a co-sponsor of British UCI Team Raleigh-GAC.

The announcement comes following the squad’s encouraging start to 2012, in which they have taken a stage victory in the Vuelta Mexico and produced strong showings in the opening two Premier Calendar rounds.

The bicycle company celebrated it’s125th birthday this year and their new sponsor has been in existence since 1849.

Signed team jerseys will be on show in The Nottingham’s 32 branches across the East Midlands, South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, while the riders should be wearing their updated kit during Sunday’s Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic.

Team manager Cherie Pridham told Cycling Weekly: “It’s fantastic news to bring in a new sponsor so early in the season. Things are looking really good for us right now.”

The Nottingham’s chief executive David Marlow spoke of his delight at the partnership, saying: “We’re proud to be involved with such an iconic brand that also has its roots in Nottingham.”

by Ismail Uddin

USA Swimming announced a partnership with Social Intelligence Corp., help the leading provider of social media investigation and background screening services to employers, health insurers, law firms, and corporate entities.

Through the partnership, USA Swimming adds another resource to its comprehensive Safe Sport program.

As part of USA Swimming’s on-going efforts to foster a safe environment for all of its members, Social Intelligence will be added to USA Swimming’s list of “Recommended Providers” to conduct the recommended searches of the pre-employment screening program. Social Intelligence can assist local member clubs in conducting social network and media searches to gain greater insight into the professional and personal conduct of those entrusted with the safety of club members.

“The purpose of providing resources and recommendations on providers is to help clubs conduct a thorough pre-employment screening for potential employees,” said Susan Woessner, USA Swimming’s Director of Safe Sport. “Social Intelligence Corp. provides expertise in the social media space, and could serve as an excellent addition to a club’s hiring process.”

“We are proud to partner with USA Swimming,” commented Max Drucker, CEO of Social Intelligence Corp. “Social media investigations are a valuable risk management solution and we are privileged to work with local swimming clubs to help keep their members safe.”

USA Swimming’s “Recommended Providers” list serves as a resource to help clubs fulfill the requirements of the Pre-Employment Screening program. These companies are accredited consumer reporting agencies that have agreed to provide the required services at preferred pricing for USA Swimming clubs. In addition to providing the required services, these companies are able to assist clubs with fulfilling both mandated and recommended processes related to the screening process.

Social Intelligence is widely recognized as the leading provider of legally compliant social media background checks. Using a combination of advanced proprietary technology and a multi-level manual review process, Social Intelligence’s conducts comprehensive social media searches that ensure compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Federal and State anti-discrimination legislation.

Technogym a manufacturer of gym equipment had renewed it’s deal with the England national team, the Football Association (FA) has announced.

Having supplied equipment to the England team during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Technogym will now serve in a similar capacity during the team’s Euro 2012 campaign in Poland and Ukraine.

The FA’s head of medical services Dr Ian Beasley said: “We are delighted to be working with Technogym again. For the England football squad during the Euros in Poland, we have selected Technogym as they have the most sophisticated and technologically advanced fitness and biomedical equipment currently used in professional sport.”

“We are proud to support the England football squad once again in our agreement with them for the Uefa European Championships 2012,” added Alberto Pacchioni, Technogym business relations manager. “Technogym’s innovative and state of the art training equipment will play a significant role in helping the squad maintain optimum fitness levels during the tournament.”

by Ismail Uddin

AmeriHealth NJ has announced the company has extended its sponsorship with the New Jersey Devils for three additional years.

AmeriHealth NJ and the New Jersey Devils first teamed up in 2008. This extended agreement includes added branding opportunities as well as increased social media engagement.

Also under the agreement, order AmeriHealth NJ will continue to hold the naming rights to the AmeriHealth Pavilion, the New Jersey Devils official practice facility. Plus AmeriHealth NJ will be the title sponsor of the “Marquee Match-Up,” a program that features youth hockey games played during the first intermission at selected New Jersey Devils regular season home games. They will also be the presenting sponsor of the “New Jersey Youth Hockey Central,” which is a page on the Devils official website, that features scores, stats, and standings for more than 300 high school and youth hockey teams across the state

“We are proud to expand our partnership with the New Jersey Devils and be a part of the continued revitalization of Newark,” said Judith L. Roman, president and CEO of AmeriHealth New Jersey. “In addition, teaming up with the Devils on their various youth programs has further enabled AmeriHealth New Jersey to educate young children on the importance of staying active and living a healthy lifestyle ? a message that we believe is important to instill at an early age.”

Jeff Vanderbeek, Chairman and Managing Partner, New Jersey Devils, added: “We are pleased to continue our longstanding partnership with AmeriHealth New Jersey. AmeriHealth New Jersey is dedicated to youth programs throughout the state and especially at the AmeriHealth Pavilion. The company’s continued support of the Devils and our youth initiatives will help further these opportunities in Newark and throughout New Jersey.”

by Ismail Uddin

Leeds United has announced that Enterprise Insurance have extended their sponsorship agreement for a further two years and will continue as the Main Club Sponsor until the end of the 2013/14 Season.

“We are delighted that we have reached an agreement with Enterprise Insurance to continue as the Main Club sponsor for the next two seasons, sale ” said Leeds United Chief Executive Shaun Harvey. “We have developed an excellent working relationship with Enterprise Insurance during the course of this season and have launched a number of Leeds United branded insurance products through the partnership, medic including the increasingly popular Leeds United Insurance Compare website. We look forward to developing our relationship further with Enterprise and helping them to promote their business to a worldwide audience.”

Enterprise Insurance Managing Director, Andrew Flowers, added: “We are delighted to continue as the main sponsor for Leeds United.  It’s a terrific Club and over the course of this season we have seen the real benefits of a marketing partnership with a globally recognised brand such as Leeds United. The Enterprise brand has been featured in 11 live games on television this season, generating significant exposure for our company not only in the UK but Internationally where we have growing business interests.”

Enterprise Insurance Company Plc was established in 2004 and is based in Gibraltar, one of Europe’s leading insurance centres. Enterprise provides a wide range of general insurance products – including motor, household, warranty and legal expenses on a wholesale basis  – for client companies in the UK, France, Greece and a number of other European territories.  In the UK, Enterprise Insurance has over two million clients and works closely with a number of well known blue chip organisations to provide insurance services.

The relationship has seen the successful launch of the Leeds United Insurance services compare website, allowing fans to save money on their insurance through comparing insurance quotes on their car, motorbike, van or home insurance policies. The Club has also launched a branded mechanical breakdown insurance policy.

by Ismail Uddin

Legg Mason Tennis Classic on the ATP World Tour 500 will now be known as the Citi Open following a title sponsorship deal between Citi, capsule the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF) and Lagardère Unlimited.

As part of a multi-year commitment, ambulance Citi becomes just the seventh title sponsor in the 44-year history of the tournament.

As an ATP World Tour 500 level event, the Citi Open is recognized by the ATP World Tour as one of the top 20 tournaments worldwide and continually attracts the best men’s tennis players from around the globe.

“The tournament has a storied history in Washington, D.C.,” said Dermot Boden, Citi Chief Brand Officer. “It’s been a prominent event on the ATP World Tour for years, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to do our part in carrying on the rich tradition, along with taking it to new heights as the Citi Open. This iconic event is a great way to mark our involvement in the local community, both on and off the court.”

Donald Dell, Group President of Lagardère Unlimited and Tournament Chairman, added: “Tennis is truly a global sport, and we are fortunate to have one of the world’s most recognized and prestigious brands now entitling our tournament. We’re grateful to have had a long and prosperous relationship with Legg Mason, and we anticipate an excellent relationship and partnership with Citi for many years to come.”

“Legg Mason has been proud to serve as title sponsor of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic for the last 18 years,” said Alan Magleby, director of investor relations and corporate communications for Legg Mason. “We have been fortunate to have worked with a talented team, who together have worked tirelessly to run an extraordinary tournament.”

Along with a new title sponsor, the 2012 event will include a WTA International Level tournament, offering $220,000 in prize money. This WTA tournament will be played simultaneously with the ATP World Tour 500 event July 28 to August 5, 2012 in Washington, D.C. and collectively named the Citi Open.

Thanks to Citi, the inclusion of the women’s event in 2012 will allow tournament organizers to create an enhanced experience for fans and players who attend, including numerous site upgrades such as a 2,500-seat show court to accommodate both tournaments.

by Ismail Uddin

Sperry Top-Sider, the leading global nautical performance and lifestyle brand, announced today its title sponsorship of the US Sailing Team, newly named US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider.

The title sponsorship is the brand’s highest profile sailing sponsorship to date and is effective immediately through December 31, 2016.

A key part of the title sponsorship of the US Sailing Team – comprised of the top-performing sailors in the 10 Olympic and three Paralympic boat classes – all boats and main sails on the National, Paralympic and Development teams will feature the Team’s new emblem, which incorporates the Sperry Top-Sider logo. In June, the Team’s new logo will be unveiled at the Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth, England. The Team’s website, social media channels, monthly newsletter The Medalist and Olympic and Paralympic headquarters in Weymouth, England will be re-branded with the new Team logo as well.

Sperry will also continue its role as exclusive footwear sponsor for the Team, who wear-test products and provide Sperry’s product designers with feedback for product enhancements. Effective January 2013, the sponsorship will also include performance apparel, eyewear, accessories (hats, bags and socks) and luggage so that all athletes sport the brand from head to toe.

“We’ve had a close, successful relationship with Sperry for a long time, but this represents a whole new level of their commitment and our partnership,” said Dean Brenner (Wallingford, Conn.), Chairman of US Sailing’s Olympic Sailing Committee. “The Games begin in three months, and this significant expansion of our relationship comes at exactly the correct time, with an extension through the 2016 Games. We are thrilled to have a partner like Sperry, and our athletes will benefit immensely from all the resources they bring to the table.”

Craig Reingold, President of Sperry Top-Sider, added: “We have been the official footwear of the US Sailing team for two decades. The title sponsor opportunity came at an ideal time for us, coinciding with our introduction of our innovative footwear technology, GripX3, developed with feedback from the Team. This sponsorship is a natural fit for the brand and shows commitment and support for the sport of sailing.

“With 2012 being an Olympic year, we have an opportunity to support these world-class athletes in a milestone event of their sailing careers – their pursuit of Olympic gold. This sponsorship further solidifies the leadership role that Sperry is taking in the performance sailing industry.”

In addition to the Olympic and Paralympic US Sailing teams, Sperry’s sponsorship also includes the US Sailing Development Team, a group of approximately 50 promising younger sailors who are the future of the sport of sailing.

by Ismail Uddin