Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson has signed a lucrative multi-year deal with Under Armour, doctor a global leader in sports performance apparel, pills footwear and accessories.

“We’re committed to empowering athletes worldwide and Michael’s leadership, team first attitude and dedication to hard work makes him the ideal partner for the brand,” said Matt Mirchin, Senior Vice President, Global Sports Marketing, Under Armour. “We look forward to seeing Michael on the pitch in our innovative football boots.”

Under Armour continues to build global momentum through the introduction of its innovative products and partnerships with the world’s best athletes and professional teams. Beginning in the 2012/13 season the brand will supply Tottenham Hotspur’s kit, as part of its technical partnership deal announced last year. In addition to Michael Dawson, brand ambassadors in the Barclays Premier League include Fulham FC’s Bobby Zamora and Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Dawson will wear Under Armour’s performance enhancing UA Hydrastrike II FG football boots on the pitch.

“I am extremely excited to join the Under Armour family. They are an ambitious brand who are committed to helping athletes constantly improve,” said Dawson. “Under Armour apparel and footwear is developed with the athlete’s needs in mind and I am looking forward to being part of building that sporting legacy.”

Dawson, who began his career at Nottingham Forrest in 2001, moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2005 after a successful spell as captain of the England Under-21 team. A natural leader, Dawson also captains Tottenham Hotspur on a regular basis, helping the Club qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the Club’s history in 2010.

Eyewear company TAG Heuer has entered a multi-race sponsorship agreement with NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kurt Busch and Phoenix Racing.

Busch, ailment who debuts in the Phoenix No. 51 Chevrolet in the Cup series this season, capsule has a personal services agreement with the eyewear company.

The company will be a primary sponsor for the non-points Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 18 as well as an associate sponsor for the season-opening points race, the Daytona 500, and for the March 11 Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Busch’s hometown track.

“TAG Heuer Eyewear has been a great partner of mine and this is a big deal for them to step up and sponsor Phoenix Racing and me for a few races this year,” Busch said. “I consider myself very fortunate to be affiliated with such a great brand and to have their strong support. I’m proud to carry the colors of TAG Heuer Eyewear on the No. 51 Chevrolet starting with Budweiser Shootout. As the defending race winner, we’re going to give it all we have to get back to Victory Lane.”

Golfer Paul Lawrie’s commitment to developing golf in his homeland has strengthened after the Open champion’s Foundation was unveiled as the new sponsor for the Scottish Boys’ Championship.

The prestigious under-18 matchplay event, which dates back to 1935 and boasts a roll of honour which includes Ronnie Shade, Andrew Coltart and Steven O’Hara, will be held at Murcar Links in Lawrie’s native Aberdeen this April and will become known as the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish Boys’ Championship.

The new alliance, which is initially for the 2012 contest, is a historic deal for the Scottish Golf Union and marks the first time a professional golfer has become a sponsor of a national amateur championship. Lawrie’s Foundation, which was formed back in 2001, helps support and nurture young golfers, as well as footballers, curlers and swimmers, in the north east. One of his proteges, the rookie pro David Law, won the boys’ crown in 2009.

“We are delighted to be lending our support to the Scottish Boys’ Championship and strengthening what is already a fantastic event,” said Lawrie, whose eldest son, Craig, made his debut in the championship at Dunbar last year and is expected to compete again in April. “It’s a championship with a rich history and one which attracts the best young golfers from all over Scotland.

“The Paul Lawrie Foundation is committed to supporting junior golf and increasing the opportunities for our young players to develop. We are proud to be working towards these goals alongside the Scottish Golf Union and are confident our sponsorship can enhance what has already been achieved.”

Douglas Connon, the chairman of the Scottish Golf Union, praised Lawrie’s support of the junior game.

“This sponsorship is a great boost for the Scottish Boys’ Championship and highlights Paul’s fantastic commitment to helping develop young golfers across Scotland,” said Connon. “He is a superb ambassador for Scottish golf and I really don’t think he gets the credit he deserves.

“He has been a trailblazer already through what he has achieved with the Paul Lawrie Foundation and we are delighted to have him on board.”

UCI Pro team Garmin-Cervelo have changed their name to Garmin-Barracuda after Slipstream Sports secured co-title sponsorship for the 2012 season.

Jonathan Vaughters, ambulance CEO of Slipstream Sports and director sportif of Team Garmin-Barracuda, said: “We are always looking for partners who, like Garmin, share our passion and commitment to the best innovations in technology, and Barracuda Networks is a perfect fit,. 

“The partnership with Barracuda Networks is long-term and the company will also allow Slipstream Sports to continue to pursue other co-title sponsor opportunities.”

Michael Perone, executive vice president and CMO of Barracuda Networks added: “The incredible sense of teamwork, passion and determination, and commitment to innovation, align perfectly with our philosophy on delivering the most innovative solutions and support to our customers.

“This partnership provides a fantastic platform to share that message with millions of people around the world in a unique and meaningful way.”

Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox Kinect has signed on as the marquee sponsor of Sunday’s Baltimore Ravens’ divisional home playoff game against Houston Texans, here in a deal estimated at more than $250,000.

As the “official gameday sponsor” of the team’s matchup with the Houston Texans, Xbox Kinect has been running 10-second promotions throughout the week on WBAL-TV 11 and WBAL Plus.

The product is also the title sponsor of WBAL-TV’s hour-long “Ravens Road to Indianapolis” program airing Saturday at 7 p.m.

Additionally, Xbox Kinect advertisements will run on pre and post-game programs on WBAL 1090-AM and 98 Rock, both official Ravens’ broadcast partners.

Xbox 360 is already a partner of the NFL.

French bank BBVA announced they will sponsor Argentine soccer teams Boca Juniors and River Plate.

BBVA French brand will be placed on the golden strip of the shirt of Boca Juniors, Argentina’s reigning football champions.

Also from July 1, 2012, the bank will take prominent place on River Plate’s shirt, as they contest the tournament Rise of Argentina.

Martin Zarich, director of Innovation and Development BBVA French, said: “We are proud to add a chapter to our history with Argentinian football and even more so that this chapter has a partner in Boca Junior. This is a very important stepwhich we become strategic partners of the club.”

Gustavo Alonso, Marketing Manager of BBVA French highlighted the benefits for customersand fans with the incorporation of the bank’s brand on the shirt of River.

“For us it is a pleasure and also a commitment to move forward in the relationship with River Plate. And of course, is a very important because we are becoming strategic partners of this club,” he said.

SiriusXM Canada have announced it will become a sponsor at this year’s NHL All-Star Weekend taking place in Ottawa from January 26-29.

In addition to a live broadcast of the game on SiriusXM Canada, hockey fans can look forward to a variety of exciting events throughout the national capital region.

SiriusXM Canada will help get the party started on January 27 by taking over The Great Canadian Cabin to host the SiriusXM NHL All-Star Concert in The Cabin. Canadian rock sensations, The Sheepdogs, will perform live with Young Rival.

To help support Canada’s next generation of NHL All-Stars, SiriusXM Canada will donate all proceeds of concert ticket sales to the Sens Foundation to help fund Ottawa’s Rink of Dreams project.

“We’re very excited to be a sponsor of the NHL All-Star Weekend,” said Paul Cunningham, VP, Sales and Marketing, SiriusXM Canada. “The SiriusXM NHL All-Star Concert in The Cabin is our way of showcasing amazing Canadian artists like The Sheepdogs and supporting up-and-coming stars on the ice by helping fund the Sens Foundation’s Rink of Dreams project. We’re inviting the public to come out and enjoy what is sure to be great show and support a great cause.”

SiriusXM Canada will also be broadcasting live from the Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair at the Ottawa Convention Centre all weekend. Fans can stop by the SiriusXM Theatre within the NHL Fan Fair to listen to daily interviews with hockey talent. On January 29 at 4 p.m. EST, the puck will drop for the 59th Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game. SiriusXM subscribers will be able to enjoy a live broadcast of the game.

Thomas Pink, symptoms the high-end British tailoring brand, ed is to sponsor the British & Irish Lions Rugby Tour 2013.

The clothing brand hopes that the shared values of British heritage and luxury will appeal to its existing customers at the same time as exposing the Thomas Pink brand to a high concentration of ABC1 consumers.

The brand is working with former rugby stars Gareth Edwards, Roger Baird, Richard Hill and Rob Henderson, who have all played in the Irish Lions Tour in previous years. The rugby stars will feature in branded content that will run across Thomas Pink’s digital and radio channels and in-store digital media as part of the brand’s support for the sponsorship.

It hopes to launch a digital campaign in 2013 that Alex Field, head of marketing at Thomas Pink says will “tap into the nation’s desire to debate around sport” as well as traditional advertising support.

Thomas Pink is also working with HSBC, a headline sponsor of the sporting event, to collaborate on marketing initiatives in the run up to the event.

The tailoring brand will also use the partnership to boost is CRM strategy by offering customers opportunities to win VIP experiences, and travel and tickets to the event, hosted in Australia and Hong Kong.

It will be the first time the tour will take in Hong Kong and Thomas Pink hopes will help boost the brand in the Chinese region where it already has a number of stores.

Thomas Pink will support the tour through its stores and will create pop-up stores on location for the duration of the tour.

As part of the partnership Thomas Pink will produce a range of licensed apparel including ties, shirts, tailored jackets cuff links that it will sell through its chain of stores worldwide and online.

Rio Tinto, manager of the world-class Oyu Tolgoi mine in South Gobi, is sponsoring Lkhamdegd Purevjargal and Mandakhnaran Ganzorig, two leading Mongolian athletes competing in the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The sponsorship will help fund training, travel and other preparation costs for P. Lkhamdegd, a judo champion, and G. Mandakhnaran, a free-style wrestler, as they prepare to compete for medals at the London 2012 Games.

Rio Tinto is a Gold Partner of the Mongolian National Olympic Committee and also the official provider of all the precious metal used to produce the 4,700 gold, silver and bronze medals to be awarded during the London 2012 Games. The metal has come from Oyu Tolgoi as well as Rio Tinto’s copper mine in the USA.

Lkhamdegd Purevjaral, said: “I am very grateful for Rio Tinto’s financial assistance as it will enable my training to be of the highest standard and allow me to focus on winning an Olympic medal. I am proud and honoured to be representing Mongolia later this year in London and would like to thank Rio Tinto for their vital support.”

Mandakhnaran Ganzorig, added: “This is a wonderful gesture and I am glad that Rio Tinto is such an enthusiastic and visible supporter of Mongolian sporting ambition. Winning a medal is my biggest ambition and winning one containing Mongolian metal would be an added bonus.”

P. Lkhamdegd, 2011 Mongolian Athlete of the Year, won gold medals last year at the Grands Prix in Germany and the Netherlands, the World Cup in the Czech Republic and Mongolia’s own Chinggis Khaan World Cup. G. Mandakhnaran won gold medals at the 2011 Ulaanbaatar International Championship as well as the 2010 Asian Games.

Cameron McRae, Rio Tinto Mongolia Country Director and President and CEO of Oyu Tolgoi, said: “We wish P. Lkhamdegd and G. Mandakhnaran the best of luck as they prepare for the Olympic Games and hope that our support helps them to bring some medals back to Mongolia. Rio Tinto is proud to be a partner of the Mongolian Olympic team and we wish all the athletes the best of luck. We believe the London Games will be a major moment for Mongolia and look forward to our sponsored athletes celebrating their own historic achievements.”

Tsend Damdin, Vice President of the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, added: “We are very happy that Rio Tinto, one of our Gold Partners for this year’s Olympic Games, is sponsoring these great athletes. Rio Tinto’s support could make all the difference, and we are delighted that the company is such a major supporter of Mongolian sport.”

GFI, herbal a leading brokerage service provider, asthma has signed a new three-year contract as title sponsor of the HKFC Tens rugby tournament, ambulance kicking off with the 2012 edition from March 21-22.

The contract runs through 2014 and will extend GFI’s title sponsorship of the international tournament to nine years, having supported the event since 2006 and helped it grow into one of the world’s leading 10-a-side competitions.

Since GFI came on board, the GFI HKFC Tens has attracted rugby legends Joe Roff and Toutai Kefu (both 2006), Jonah Lomu (2007), Brian Lima (2008), Bobby Skinstad (2009), Waisale Serevi (2010), George Gregan, Justin Marshall and Christian Cullen (all 2011).

The tournament, which is sanctioned by the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, is held at Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) on the Wednesday and Thursday before the world-famous Hong Kong Sevens and is an important part of the city’s rugby week.

Scott Tatham, Managing Director of GFI Asia-Pacific, said: “GFI has been a proud title sponsor of the HKFC Tens since 2006 and we’re committed to continue growing the event, which is already recognised as the world’s top rugby tens tournament.

“The GFI HKFC Tens is a great event for locals and visiting rugby fans who get to watch top-quality teams and world-class players in Hong Kong. The Tens offers a great chance for people to interact with rugby’s greatest players, such as Gregan, Marshall, Cullen, Serevi, Lima and Lomu.”

Hong Kong Football Club has hosted the annual event since it was staged in 1986 to celebrate the club’s 100th anniversary. Last year’s event commemorated the club’s 125th anniversary.

Chris Harker, Chairman of the GFI HKFC Tens Organising Committee, was delighted GFI extended its title sponsorship of the tournament, which last year featured live television coverage for the first time, with Now TV broadcasting action on Thursday and a highlights show.

“GFI has been a fantastic supporter of the HKFC Tens and we’ve worked hand in hand with them to grow this tournament into the world’s best rugby tens event,” Harker said.

“The HKFC Tens was created by Hong Kong Football Club in 1986 to mark the club’s 100th anniversary and has now grown into a showpiece event of its own, featuring the world’s top touring rugby teams and many rugby legends keen to give back to the game.”