NBA Legend and Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan has agreed to his first endorsement deal with a Charlotte-based business, partnering with team sponsors Presbyterian Healthcare and Novant Health.

Jordan has several national endorsement deals, but this is his first in Charlotte since becoming an NBA owner.

It is part of an agreement that renews and enhances the existing eight-year partnership between the two organizations. It also allows the companies to utilize Jordan’s famous name in advertising, including television and print.

Jordan says he proud to have the companies as part of the Bobcats family, adding, “I’ve seen the level of care and commitment that the doctors and staff of Presbyterian Healthcare have shown our players and our entire organization.”

by Ismail Uddin

Relations between Nike and Adidas have never been good but their rivalry has taken a new step following reports of a sponsorship row between the two multinational companies.

Business Review Europe reports that “relations between the sportswear giants (are) even more frosty than usual over their access to leading Olympic stars including Paula Radcliffe, Mo Farah and Mark Cavendish.”

The problem stems from the fact that Adidas is an official London 2012 sponsor, and doesn’t want to be giving Nike any kind of free publicity.

In the past, there has been a gentleman’s agreement made between the two sides to allow athletes to get their medals with their own sponsors’ shoes on their feet, but the growing acrimony has kept that from happening this time around.

“Both companies are understood to be resisting attempts by the other to force athletes to break existing long-term footwear contracts in order to comply with team (uniform) requirements in London,” Business Review Europe notes.

Brits Farah and Radcliffe are sponsored by Nike year-round, but Team Great Britain is sponsored by Adidas. Meanwhile, the U.S. team has Nike as its sponsor but has plenty of athletes who are individually sponsored year-round by Adidas, Reebok, Puma, and others.

“Both the American and the British teams (are) insisting publicly that they will compel athletes to don full team (uniforms) on the podium,” the site notes, meaning that the athletes will be made to wear Adidas shoes if Adidas sponsors the team.

The British and U.S. teams have been hoping the two sides can come to some kind of agreement before the Games get underway, but things aren’t looking great right now.

Despite signing on as an Olympics partner and the European soccer championships this summer, Adidas is somehow expecting a sales slowdown this year, Reuters reports. “The company said on Wednesday sales growth would slow to 5-9 percent on a currency-neutral basis from the 13 percent reported for 2011.”

Adidas and Nike don’t have long to sort out their differences: Some 8,000 Torchbearers carrying the Olympic Flame across the world arrive in the UK on May 18th.

Following their alliance last week with Fashion brand Hackett, Sahara Force India has announced today that Chatham Marine will be the official provider of team travel shoes for the 2012 season.

Both stylish and functional, Chatham has established its position as one of Britain’s key marine footwear brands with over 20 years experience. The company’s very British style combines traditional craftsmanship with innovation, durable materials and attention to detail. Chatham deck shoes are well suited to life on the road and the busy demands of the Formula One travel schedule.

Chatham has supplied all travelling staff with footwear from the current deck shoe collection. Following a fitting session at Sahara Force India’s Silverstone base earlier this week, the team is ready to give the shoes their first outing en route to this week’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

by Ismail Uddin

Christian Seifert, impotent Vorsitzender der DFL-Geschäftsführung (Deutsche Fußball Liga GmbH) und Vizepräsident im DFB-Präsidium und der Hamburger Verleger Peter Strahlendorf (Jahrbuch Sponsoring) werden vom Fachverband Sponsoring FASPO mit der Aufnahme in die HALL OF FAME SPONSORING geehrt. Die Auszeichnung findet am 22. März in Hamburg im Rahmen der Fachtagung SPONSORING SUMMIT 2012 statt.

Christian Seifert wird für seinen maßgeblichen Anteil an der Entwicklung und dem Erfolg der Marke Bundesliga ausgezeichnet, die zu den führenden Profi-Sportligen Europas zählt und stark wie nie ist. Sportsponsoring profitiert durch Profifußball in erheblichem Maße.

Peter Strahlendorf ist Herausgeber des Standardwerks „Jahrbuch Sponsoring” sowie mehrerer Fachzeitschriften und branchenspezifischen Onlinedienste. Er ist Mitbegründer des Fachverbandes Sponsoring FASPO und Pionier des Gattungsmarketings für Sponsoring.

Mit der Aufnahme in die HALL OF FAME SPONSORING werden jährlich Persönlichkeiten ausgezeichnet, die sich um das Sponsoring im deutschsprachigen Raum verdient gemacht haben. Bisher unter anderem: Franz Beckenbauer, Günther Mast, Prof. Manuela Rousseau, Dr. Cesar W. Lüthi, Manfred Maus, Horst Dassler, Uli Hoeneß, Wilfried Straub, Brigitte Kössner-Skoff, Oliver Kaiser, Prof. Dr. Reinhold Würth, Hans Wilhelm Gäb und Max Hollein.

Der Fachverband Sponsoring FASPO (www.faspo.de) ist die zentrale Interessenvertretung der Sponsoringbranche in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, mit Sitz in Hamburg, Wien und Winterthur. Informationen über den SPONSORING SUMMIT 2012, in dessen Rahmen auch die 19. INTERNATIONALEN SPONSORING AWARDs vergeben werden, unter www.faspo.de. 

Coldstream Brewery has signed on as the exclusive cider supplier of the 2012 Qantas Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Coldstream Brewery marketing manager, Nick Strong, said: “This is such a brilliant opportunity for a smaller business that is local to Victoria. We’ve signed this partnership agreement for a two-year period with the possibility to extend, and we’re already excited about what the future holds.”

Strong said that it was unfortunate that small Australian companies are not often given the opportunity to get involved with large-scale event sponsorship that would ultimately help support local businesses.

“But we are lucky to have established a wonderful relationship with Formula 1 and it has been a breath of fresh air to deal with a group that wants to support Victorian business. The Grand Prix represents a $50million investment that brings $150million of tourism into the state and this money undoubtedly helps grow local businesses.”

Coldstream also brews a range of boutique beers, but Strong said that its cider was always the focus of its arrangement with the Grand Prix.

“We were really keen to showcase the cider,” he explained. “It’s part of our strategy as a company to cement ourselves as a well-respected brewer and showcasing the cider gives us a platform to roll out our beers.”

The 2012 Qantas Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix kicks off on March 15 in Melbourne.

Coldstream Cider will be available at all public bars on track and will also be showcased within the Paddock Club and all other corporate hospitality suites.

by Ismail Uddin

Stationary maker, order Croxley, sale has signed South African cricketer Jacques Rudolph.

“Today Croxley is proud to be associated with another century-maker – Jacques Rudolph, South Africa’s stylish left-hander who has made a come-back to the Proteas Test side this season,” says Trevor Girnun, managing director of Silveray Statmark Company, distributors of Croxley. 

“This famous name on Jacques Rudolph’s flashing bat, will further cement Croxley’s association with style and quality for the duration of the sponsorship.”

His Test debut, in 2003, was when Rudolph made his mark on the international cricket scene with a double century – an unbeaten 222 – against Bangladesh in Chittagong. That year he was also voted South African Cricketer of the Year. 

As part of the Proteas’ Test squad in the current New Zealand series, Rudolph hopes to bounce back to the form that saw him top SA’s batting averages the last time South Africa ventured into the Black Caps’ territory, in 2004.

After five years away from the international arena, Rudolph now returns to the SA side. He played in all five home Tests against Australia and Sri Lanka.

In an interview just before leaving for New Zealand, Rudolph commented: “I am proud of Croxley’s sponsorship and will do everything to ensure that the company’s faith in me is justified. Having that famous name on my bat gives me an added responsibility – and incentive – to do well.”

by Ismail Uddin

Garda World Security Corporation, one of the leading Security Solutions, Cash Logisticsand Global Risk Consulting firms in the world, has announced its title sponsorship of Maude-Aimée LeBlanc, a LPGA golfer who joined the tour in December 2011.

Ms. LeBlanc, an All-American college player who led Purdue University to win the 2010 NCAA Team Championship, turned professional in June 2011.

Stephan Cretier, President & CEO, said: “As a young professional golfer, Maude-Aimée’s career trajectory mirrors the history of our company – an up-and-coming young player who has established herself among the best in the game and who is on the way to the top. Maude-Aimée will achieve her goals in the game of golf, while Garda will reach those same levels in the world of security services, cash logistics and global risk consulting.”

Ms. LeBlanc, 23, began playing golf at age five when her father introduced her to the sport. By age nine, she was already winning golf tournaments. At 13, Ms. LeBlanc realized that with hard work, determination and focus on her performance, she could achieve great success in the sport she loves. With a scholarship from Purdue University, she won the 2006 International Junior Orange Bowl and the 2006 Canadian Junior Championship. She was named first team All-American by Golfweek; second team All-American by NGCA, and earned the Mary Fossum Award for lowest stroke average in the Big Ten. She was also first team All-Big Ten for the third-year straight and was Purdue’s top-finisher in the national championship.

“Garda is a great Canadian company that’s growing internationally and is, like me, performance driven and committed to excellence” Ms. LeBlanc said. “With their support as my main sponsor, I can focus on achieving the goals I have set for myself – being among the best golfers in the world – as the company strives to do the same in the security services and cash logistics industry.”

Since its founding 16 years ago, Garda has grown into a major global force in providing security services and cash logistics solutions to businesses and governments around the world. The company focuses on establishing security platforms and continually improving them with a combination of business development, operational excellence, and focused entrepreneurial leadership. In late 2011, Garda established its U.S. Cash Logistics headquarters in Boca Raton, FL.

by Ismail Uddin

Oxygen Plus(O+), the leading purveyors of 95% pure, portable, recreational oxygen, have revealed plans to elevate the game of tennis through the endorsement of Vic Braden, tennis legend and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Aligning mutual goals, O+ Ambassador Braden and Oxygen Plus are partnering to enhance the performance of professional tennis players through the benefits and technology of O+ recreational canned oxygen.

Vic Braden has a singular professional goal: To help athletes maximize performance and enjoyment of his or her chosen sport in the shortest period of time. He has spent much of his career coaching players to improve their game with more precision and focusing on performance advancement through technology. Esteemed in the tennis community as the man always on the cutting edge of technological performance advancements, Mr. Braden connected the game with O+’s fundamental purpose – to aid athletes in improving performance, mental concentration and recovery.

Tennis players have a grueling schedule, with daily back-to-back practices and two to six hour matches. Not only is the game itself intense, the pace of the sport leaves little time for recovery. Braden, Founder of the Vic Braden Tennis College, said, “Simply put, when energy drops, performance drops. I’m always seeking ways to help players enhance what they naturally have. Oxygen Plus is one of the most exciting products I have seen in a long time. It really could be a game changer for many athletes in the tennis world. My partnership with Oxygen Plus will entail several components in the coming months.”

O+ CEO, Andre Peschong, added: “We could not be more pleased to have such a force in the world of tennis choose to become an ambassador of our product, and Oxygen Plus is proud to support professional athletes as they compete to win on national and world stages. Mr. Braden’s vision naturally matches our company’s commitment to health and wellness. As a performance elevating brand, our aim is to put our product in the hands of players across the globe. Ultimately, they can perform better and recover faster through the natural benefits of oxygen. We believe that tennis pros using O+ will see immediate benefits to their game, specifically in the areas of increased mental concentration and post workout recovery.”

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has confirmed that the Red Bull Media House GmbH (RBMH) is the new official media partner of the RockyRoads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano.

Under this new partnership, health RBMH will provide media services including HD TV production, store webcasting and content syndication. Live streaming of all the World Cup Cross-country Olympic, bronchi Cross- country Eliminator and Downhill races will be featured on www.redbull.com/bike and www.redbull.tv. The UCI and RBMH will collaborate closely to ensure that coverage of these events will be more dynamic, innovative and viewer-friendly, providing fans with unforgettable images of racing action.

RBMH will produce the official international live signal as well as highlight programmes that the UCI will provide to TV channels on all continents. Overall TV production will be improved with High Definition images and an increased number of cameras at events.

RBMH, which replaces Freecaster.tv as exclusive live streaming partner, will also hold worldwide non-exclusive internet rights to the UCI BMX World Championships as well as selected media rights in certain territories for the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.

UCI President Pat McQuaid commented on the partnership: “The RockyRoads UCI Mountain Bike World Cup presented by Shimano has been given a boost for 2012, and with RBMH on board, we can be sure that top quality images of this series can reach fans throughout the world. This exciting World Cup series deserves innovative media coverage of the highest standard. With RBMH we have found the perfect solution. This new partnership can only serve to further develop our leading mountain bike series.”

by Ismail Uddin

Welbeck Group have been named the Official Team Sponsors of Ireland for The Gaucho International Polo at London’s O2 arena, uniting high-octane polo with live world famous music to produce a unique event never seen before in Britain.

Following the triumphant inaugural year in 2011, Gaucho International Polo has now evolved into a superb occasion. The 2012 event will consist of two international arena polo matches merged with exclusive performances from Grammy award winning band, Bajofondo.

The matches will see Scotland taking on Welbeck Group’s Ireland and culminate in a titanic clash between England and Argentina.

Welbeck Group Marketing Manager, Nick Evans said of the sponsorship, said: “We are delighted to become a Team Sponsor. Gaucho International Polo is such a prestigious event and we are proud to be partners. It is an exciting opportunity to take our clients to the 02 for such a quality occasion. We also support the British Forces and shall encourage all our clients to wear white jeans to raise as much money as possible for such a worthy cause.”

Martin Williams, Operations Director of Gaucho, added: “Gaucho are excited to create a unique event combining complimentary wine tasting, Grammy Award winning music and international polo. Based on last year’s event there’s a lot of interest in the City for this event therefore we’re delighted that Welbeck Group, IG Index and City A.M are partners.”

by Ismail Uddin