LiveOn, a website, which shares your most important memories and achievements with future generations, has partnered with IndyCar’s Michael Shank Racng.

“We think LiveOn is a natural fit with Michael Shank’s team,” says LiveOn Founder and CEO Jonathan Whistman. “They’re about making the most of opportunities and ultimately making memories that will be talked about for many, many years. That’s exactly what our site is about.”

Whistman has one thing right: the team is definitely on track to make the most of this opportunity. The LiveOn #60 Ford/Riley was the fastest Ford at testing earlier this month, driven by John Pew, Ozz Negri, AJ Allmendinger and Justin Wilson. The foursome looks to harness the same stealth and speed this weekend, starting off the season with a foot toward the championship and Pew’s third-straight Trueman Award.

Fans who are interested in experiencing Pew’s exciting and award-studded career can find it showcased on LiveOn, where photos, videos and Pew’s own commentary are accessible from his interactive Timeline. MSR Spokesman Matt Cleary thinks fans will also find LiveOn’s other features just as meaningful.

“LiveOn is a unique offering on the web, allowing users to control their legacy. The site looks to answer a question–where will all your most important memories end up, and will they be around for the future? Much more than an electronic scrapbook or photo storage site, LiveOn serves as a chance to catalogue wisdom and advice to future generations, creating a dynamic time capsule experience that will be protected for generations to come.”

MillerCoors, NASCAR and Penske Racing have jointly announced today the have extended their multi-year partnership with the brewer’s two biggest brands, Coors Light and Miller Lite.

For MillerCoors, the deals with the sanctioning body and one of the sport’s most respected teams solidify its status among the most committed sponsors in NASCAR. In addition, MillerCoors has alliances with seven tracks that host NASCAR races.

Coors Light, the World’s Most Refreshing Beer, is extending its sponsorship as the Official Beer of NASCAR. Coors Light started its official sponsorship with NASCAR in 2008, after a 14-year run as the primary sponsor of the #40 car.

Additionally, the millions of fans of the famed Blue Deuce and its popular driver Brad Keselowski can rest easy because Miller Lite, the original light beer with the never watered down taste, has renewed its partnership with Penske Racing. Miller Lite will continue as the season-long primary sponsor of Penske’s #2 Dodge driven by Keselowski, building upon an alliance that began in 1991. Miller Lite continues as one of the highest profile season-long primary sponsors in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

MillerCoors Chief Marketing Officer Andy England said:”We don’t make investment decisions like this without having a great sense of exactly what the alliance will deliver for our brands. That’s why I’m so excited about our continued partnerships with NASCAR and with Penske Racing. NASCAR fans are among the most passionate and loyal fans in all of sports, and they love nothing more than getting together with friends to watch the race while enjoying a cold, refreshing Coors Light or a great tasting, never watered down Miller Lite. Our distributors and retailers know that, which is why they’re so supportive of our leadership in the sport.”

The Coors Light partnership with NASCAR includes the Coors Light Pole Award for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, which rewards the driver with the fastest qualifying time each week. It also includes the exclusive right to use NASCAR marks on retail point-of-sale and merchandising materials, in advertising and digital marketing, and through other marketing tools.

Coors Light brings special insight to race fans through its Miss Coors Light program, which began at the start of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase for the Cup and continued throughout the 2011 season. Miss Coors Light, who will be back in 2012, presents the Coors Light Pole Award to the winning driver, makes appearances during race week at local bars and provides her perspective on NASCAR activities via the Miss Coors Light Facebook page.

“The return of MillerCoors to NASCAR not only ensures that the company will bring back compelling activation that continues to engage and excite our fans, but it also benefits our ecosystem as a whole, which is comprised of tracks, drivers and teams,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR chief marketing officer. “As a sanctioning body, NASCAR is proud to have Coors Light as part of our stable of Official Partners for whom we create exclusive assets and platforms to drive their respective businesses. NASCAR is the sport that works for business, and we’re pleased to see it working so well for MillerCoors.”

For Miller Lite, its sponsorship extension with Penske and Keselowski comes after an amazing 2011 season, Keselowski’s second full year on the Sprint Cup circuit. Keselowski and his Miller Lite team surged from deep in the driver standings as late as mid-July to win three races, qualify for the Chase and finish fifth in the championship standings.

Keselowski and the Blue Deuce are featured throughout the year in Miller Lite-branded point-of-sale materials displayed in on- and off-premise retail accounts across the country, as well as in advertising and digital marketing. Keselowski and members of his crew also make special appearances at retail accounts to visit Miller Lite customers throughout the season.

“The No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge is coming off a very successful season on the racetrack – one where we reached Victory Lane for a sixth-consecutive season while qualifying for the Chase for the Championship,” said Roger Penske. “The continued support of MillerCoors will ensure that this long-standing partnership will remain one of the strongest bonds in professional motorsports. With Miller Lite, we are proud to have one of the few full-season sponsors in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. That continuity is one of the many reasons Brad and the team are primed for another great season.”

LG Electronics USA, an official NCAA Corporate Partner, has extended its alliance with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, under a new agreement that runs through August 2015.

Through this new agreement, negotiated with CBS Sports and Turner Sports, LG Electronics will continue as an official NCAA Corporate Partner and have exclusive category marketing and promotional rights related to all 89 NCAA championship events across 23 different sports, including the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and NCAA Football Championships.

Working with the NCAA, Turner and CBS, all LG Electronics consumer products divisions will leverage LG’s relationship with college sports through integrated marketing programs, promotional activities, retailer tie-ins, and print, broadcast and online advertising. This is designed to strengthen consumers’ emotional ties with the LG brand across the company’s major product categories in the United States – Home Entertainment, Home Appliances and Mobile Phones, according to James Fishler, senior vice president, marketing and go-to-market operations, LG Electronics USA.

“LG is proud to build on our role as an Official NCAA Corporate Partner,” said Fishler. “Similar to the NCAA’s talented student-athletes and coaches across nearly two dozen college sports, LG focuses on excellence in electronics, appliances and mobile. Through this alliance, we unite all three major product categories to build a common feel for the brand, capturing the essence of LG’s famous ‘Life’s Good’ slogan.”

The multi-faceted LG campaign, aimed at connecting with the NCAA’s extensive network of collegiate sports fans across the country, helps bring the LG brand to life in the minds of LG’s target consumers. The partnership provides LG with the opportunity to speak to more than 100 million passionate collegiate fans and alumni across 50 states, to show how LG’s stylish design and smart technology can enhance their lives.

“LG has been a key member of the NCAA Corporate Partner family for three years now, and we’re thrilled that this industry leader has committed to a long-term relationship,” said Greg Shaheen, NCAA interim executive vice president of championships and alliances. “Our primary goal is high standards in academics and athletics, which is compatible with LG’s leadership and high standards in business principles and products.”

Chris Simko, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, CBS Sports, said: “CBS Sports and Turner Sports are thrilled to announce this extension of our NCAA Corporate Partnership with LG. Over the past three years, LG has demonstrated a unique creative vision and willingness to support new NCAA Championship initiatives across their product lines and retail network, making them an invaluable marketing partner of ours.”

Will Funk, senior vice president of NCAA Partnerships and Branded Programming, Turner Sports Ad Sales, added: “LG’s renewal of its NCAA partnership underscores the power and growth of the NCAA as a marketing platform, and we look forward to working with the company to develop customized activations to support its consumer electronics, appliance and mobile businesses. LG’s continued support of all 89 men’s and women’s NCAA championships will allow NCAA fans to experience and engage with LG’s innovative products across television, digital, mobile, online and live events.”

LG’s Fishler explained that, under its new agreement, the company plans LG-themed events and initiatives across the country, including retailer promotions, throughout college sports seasons, with special emphasis on the NCAA March Madness men’s basketball championship.

The NCAA has a multi-media agreement with both CBS and Turner Sports under which they collaborate with the NCAA to offer the NCAA’s corporate marketing program.

Accenture, generic a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company has secured a deal with the RBS 6 Nations to be the official technology partner for the 2012 and 2013 tournaments.

The new partnership means Accenture will deliver the official RBS 6 Nations Championship free mobile app for iPhone, which provides fans with stats, team news, video highlights and up-to-date scores throughout the rugby tournament.

John Feehan, chief executive of the RBS 6 Nations said: “Through a collaborative contract with Accenture we have been able to deliver the new mobile app ahead of this year’s first championship game on Saturday, 4 February, between France and Italy.

“The app will provide broadcasters, journalists, coaches and rugby fans with the latest news, such as team line-ups and live text commentary throughout the championship.”

Mark Ryan, country managing director, Accenture Ireland, said Accenture Mobility Services was tapped to help the RBS 6 Nations respond to the needs of its changing consumers and to enhance the experience of rugby fans.

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has announced today that DB Schenker has inked a deal to become the Global Logistics Partner of the ITU World Triathlon Series for three years.

An industry leader, DB Schenker will provide transportation and logistics services for the ITU World Triathlon Series which will visit eight different countries on four continents, beginning with Sydney on April 14. 

Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member, said: “The ITU World Triathlon Series is all about excellence so we are proud to welcome DB Schenker, a new partner that represents just that.  World class delivery and logistics support from DB Schenker is a wonderful addition and will contribute to the continuing success of the ITU World Triathlon Series.”

Dr. Thomas C. Lieb, Chairman of the Management Board of Schenker AG, added: “We are excited to be partnering with the ITU World Triathlon Series. Triathlon events continue to grow across all five continents and the level of competition at all levels is far reaching. So to that end, to support and provide logistics services to the ITU series is a great honour for us. Transporting the goods and equipment across the eight events is what our service offering is all about – on time and in full.”

In 2011 the ITU World Triathlon Series doubled its media figures compared to 2010. The TV duration was 917 hours; the coverage reached an audience of 207 million and made 4.6 billion FASPO contacts. The events had more than one million spectators while 27,500 participants competed in one of the age-group races.

Entering its fourth year, the ITU World Triathlon Series is the premier triathlon series in the world and the most competitive.  Athletes compete in series events with total points added to determine the ITU Triathlon World Champion.  In 2012, the series will be staged in eight different countries, kicking off in Sydney in April and wrapping up in October at the Grand Final in Auckland where the ITU World Champions will be crowned.

The deal was brokered by Upsolut Event GmbH, ITU’s commercial and marketing partner. Existing partners and sponsors of the ITU World Triathlon Series are: Dextro Energy, Samsung, Suunto, Skins, Specialized, Oakley and now DB Schenker.

Electronic giant Sharp is to be the official partner of talkSPORT’s coverage of the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament this summer.

Sponsorship of the station’s coverage of the tournament will include bespoke-on air content around the live-matches being covered by the station and across all talkSport platforms, cheap including advertising content within the channel’s sister title Sport Magazine.

The deal was negotiated by Sharp’s media agency MbD with Sharp having previously sponsored talkSport’s coverage of the UEFA 2012 final draw last December.

All 31 matches in the tournament will be broadcast on talkSPORT on and through its website, beginning 8 June in Poland and the Ukraine.

In activating the sponsorship, Sharp has created ‘Sharp FanLabs’, a Europe-wide project that aims to offer insight into the behavior and emotions of football fans.

Anthony Hogg, head of creative solutions at talkSPORT sales house UTV Pitch, commented: “As a dedicated sport station we’re really excited about 2012 and having a sponsor like Sharp on board for our UEFA EURO 2012 coverage is a great start to the year.

“Our platforms will provide the perfect environment for Sharp to engage directly with football fans on their FanLabs project. We are again using our tried and tested unique category exclusive six partner commercial tournament model for official brands wanting to activate or align themselves to the biggest tournament of the year.”

A.O. Smith Corp. announced that it has renewed its sponsorship of PGA Tour golf professional Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey through 2012.

Gainey will be sporting the Milwaukee-based water heater and boiler manufacturer’s logo on his hat and golf shirt. The South Carolina native is a former employee of A.O. Smith’s McBee, bronchi S.C., store water heater plant.

“A.O. Smith gave me an opportunity to make a living so many years ago when I began working at the McBee plant,” Gainey said. “I don’t think that I can ever thank them enough for putting their faith in me yet again and deciding to sponsor me on the tour.”

Gainey had a breakout year in 2011, compiling seven top-10 finishes and earning more than $2 million on the PGA Tour, placing him 36th on the money list.

Gainey starred on The Golf Channel’s “Big Break II” and was asked back to compete on “Big Break VII: The Reunion at Reunion,” where he walked away with the winner’s trophy. In December 2008, Gainey earned his PGA Tour card when he finished tied for 19th at the PGA Qualifying School.

Gainey secured two wins on the Nationwide Tour in 2010, finishing the year at fourth on the money list. His performance earned him a spot on the PGA Tour in 2011.

Ajita Rajendra, president and chief operating officer of A.O. Smith, said: “We are very proud of Tommy for all of his recent accomplishments and are honored to continue sponsoring him. We wish him well in 2012 and will be following his progress on the course.”

Beijing Olympian and 400 metres runner Andrew Steele’s has announced a sponsorship deal with CHEP which has kept his London 2012 dream alive.

The 26-year-old Trafford AC star lost his Lottery funding from UK Athletics last year after more than year` out of the sport with illness. Didsbury-based Steele considered quitting but has now announced a career saving deal with Trafford Park company CHEP, discount the world’s leading provider of pallet and container pooling solutions.

Steele, erectile who reached the semi-finals in China four years ago, clocking a lifetime best of 44.94 seconds, can now travel to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra next month for some invaluable warm weather training.

It also enables him to continue his regime of training twice a day, six days a week, as well as funding his physiotherapy and other related expenses.

“A home Olympics is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and CHEP will be giving me the very best chance of success at London 2012,” said Steele.

“They have obviously saved my dream of competing at London, as I was really struggling to make ends meet before they agreed to help.

“I’m really looking forward to making the sponsorship a mutually beneficial relationship for us both, and hopefully rewarding the faith shown in me by the company with glory at the London Games.

CHEP managing director, UK & Ireland, Howard Wigham, said: “2012 is set to become a memorable year of sport in this country, and I’m very excited about this sponsorship with less than 200 days to go until the Olympics begin.

“Andrew is a fantastic talent, and a real contender for the London Olympics. We’re headquartered in Manchester, so it’s great for us to be backing such local talent in his quest for Olympic success.”

The sponsorship will see Steele become a brand ambassador for the company in the UK, hosting a series of lifestyle and health education sessions for CHEP’s UK-based employees. He will also maintain a blog, reporting regularly on his training progress in the lead up to the Olympics.

 

InspireSport, viagra a direct-sell sports tour operator has clinched a major deal with Aviva Premiership Rugby.

The news follows investment by former Thomas Cook tour operations managing director Richard Calvert and former Comtec boss Simon Powell, ed both non-executive directors, former Comtec financial director Matt Wakerley and US-based aviation specialist Jonathan Baldwin.

They have invested £340,000 in the Cardiff-based specialist alongside existing shareholders, including Finance Wales.

InspireSport managing director Tom Shorey said the new deal was a first for Premiership Rugby. The organisation has joined forces with the tour operator to provide development programmes for youngsters aged ten and above.

They will provide residential camps, with training by Premiership Rugby coaches, to develop young people’s sports skills and give advice on other issues, such as nutrition, over three to five days. There will also be an opportunity to attend an Aviva Premiership match and mix with players and coaches.

The deal is with 12 past or present Premiership clubs including Harlequins, Leeds Carnegie, London Irish and London Wasps.

Shorey said: “What is different about our tours is that they are educational and cultural, not a holiday. Young people will learn new skills.”

The operator also plans to develop more partnerships with schools and expand its offering, which is currently 85%-90% football but also encompasses other team sports such as netball, hockey and rugby.

Santos will continue their title sponsorship of the Santos Tour Down Under until at least 2016 after renewing its sponsorship agreement for a further four years.

“This is fantastic news for the State and it shows the confidence Santos has in the event, bronchi ” said Premier Jay Weatherill.

“The race is now truly established on the world stage, kicking off the annual UCI WorldTour calendar and attracting the best teams and riders to Adelaide each January.

“The Santos Tour Down Under is the biggest cycling race in the southern hemisphere and the news that our successful partnership will continue ensures this event can continue its impressive growth.

“I would like to thank Santos and their CEO, David Knox, for their continued support and commitment and I look forward to many more successful Santos Tour Down Under events in the years to come.”

Santos CEO David Knox also welcomed the extension of the partnership.

“I’m extremely pleased that we will continue our association with the Santos Tour Down Under, an event that brings a tremendous amount of energy, vibrancy and pride to South Australia,” he said.

“Its global popularity and the elite cyclists that it attracts are hallmarks of its success and will ensure it remains a wonderful showcase for Australia on the world stage.”

The 2011 event injected $43 million in to the State’s economy, had record crowds of more than 780,000 people and generated $154 million of media coverage and 280 hours of national and international television coverage.

Premier Jay Weatherill today announced Santos would continue as naming rights sponsor of the Santos Tour Down Under until at least 2016 after renewing its sponsorship agreement for a further four years.

“This is fantastic news for the State and it shows the confidence Santos has in the event,” Mr Weatherill said.

“The race is now truly established on the world stage, kicking off the annual UCI WorldTour calendar and attracting the best teams and riders to Adelaide each January.

“The Santos Tour Down Under is the biggest cycling race in the southern hemisphere and the news that our successful partnership will continue ensures this event can continue its impressive growth.

“I would like to thank Santos and their CEO, David Knox, for their continued support and commitment and I look forward to many more successful Santos Tour Down Under events in the years to come.”

Santos CEO David Knox said: “I’m extremely pleased that we will continue our association with the Santos Tour Down Under, an event that brings a tremendous amount of energy, vibrancy and pride to South Australia,” he said.

“Its global popularity and the elite cyclists that it attracts are hallmarks of its success and will ensure it remains a wonderful showcase for Australia on the world stage.”

The 2011 event injected $43 million in to the State’s economy, had record crowds of more than 780,000 people and generated $154 million of media coverage and 280 hours of national and international television coverage.