Scotiabank, the official bank of the NHL, has become the title sponsor of NHL Fan Fair, the official fan festival for the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend, January 26-28, at the Ottawa Convention Centre in downtown Ottawa.

As part of Scotiabank’s commitment to serving hockey fans of all ages, the 2012 Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair will offer three days of family-friendly interactive games and attractions, special appearances, trophy and memorabilia displays, live TV and radio broadcasts, music, food and dozens of other dynamic activities.

Kyle McMann, NHL vice president of partnership marketing in Canada, said: “Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair will be an exciting, interactive and fun destination for fans and families to celebrate the game we love throughout All-Star Weekend. With Scotiabank’s deep hockey connections in Ottawa and throughout Canada, it’s only fitting to have Canada’s Hockey Bank help us bring this cornerstone of All-Star Weekend programming to life.”

Duncan Hannay, senior vice-president, Marketing, Canada for Scotiabank, added: “We are excited to offer Canadians this great opportunity to become a part of the game that means so much in communities across our country. Whether it is seeing trophies up close or meeting your NHL heroes, Scotiabank is proud of its hockey programs that invest in this great sport, from supporting young players putting on their first set of skates to partnering with professional NHL athletes.”

Mitre have continued their shirt sponsorship of English Football League team Ipswich Town FC for a further two years.

The brand will supply the club with home and away kits, shop as well as bench and training gear, until the end of the 2013/2014 season. 

Gary Hibbert, Mitre’s managing director, said: “We’re delighted to have extended our partnership for a further two years with Ipswich Town after a successful four years. Ipswich is the perfect partner for Mitre, steeped in heritage, with a history that includes an FA Cup win, a UEFA Cup victory and a top five Premiership finish. 

“We are fully committed to continuing to provide the club and their supporters with the very best designs and the highest quality products.”

Simon Clegg, Ipswich Town’s chief executive, added: “I have been impressed with the quality of Mitre’s products and their experience in the design and manufacture of sportswear is second to none. 

“I am pleased we have concluded a deal that will see a consolidation of the strong partnership that has built up between Mitre and the football club, and the continued presence of the sportswear’s brand on our shirts.”

Williams Formula One team have renewed and expanded their sponsorship deal with partner, generic Randstad Holding N.V. 

Founded in 1960 and headquartered in the Netherlands, find Randstad provides flexible recruitment and human resources services, cheao sale placing more than half a million people each day in employment. Following its acquisition of Vedior in 2008,

Randstad is now the second largest HR provider in the world representing more than 90% of the global human resources market. Randstad operates in over 40 countries with a network of more than 4,000 offices worldwide. Their mission is to take the lead in shaping the world of work by developing the true value of human capital, a philosophy and commitment to people shared with the AT&T Williams team. 

Williams Randstad partnership is now entering its seventh year following five extensions and upgrades since 2006. The agreement will see a significant increase in Randstad’s presence on the cars and throughout the team which will be revealed with the 2012 livery launch.

Frank Williams, Team Principal of AT&T Williams said, “I am thrilled that Randstad are continuing their support of the team. They have been an important and valued partner throughout our business over the past six years and I am looking forward to an even stronger partnership next year. This announcement highlights the team‘s success in delivering a strong return on investment and Randstad’s commitment to us despite a difficult year on the racetrack. I’d like to thank them for their support which we will look to repay as we work our way back up the grid.”

Leading travel provider Thompson Sport has stepped up its commercial activity with a sponsorship agreement with the Jockey Club the largest commercial group in British horseracing, in a three year deal.

The new partnership will see Thomson Sport develop travel packages for some of the most popular racing fixtures staged at The Jockey Club’s 14-strong portfolio of racecourses, including the John Smith’s Grand National Meeting at Aintree, the Cheltenham Festival, the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom Downs, the William Hill Winter Festival at Kempton Park and the QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket.

Packages will include race tickets and transport, as well as optional extras such as meals, hospitality, hotel accommodation and other bespoke elements. They will also be developed around The Jockey Club’s popular music nights, which welcomed more than 500,000 people to its venues in the last two years.

Simon Bazalgette, Group Chief Executive of The Jockey Club, said: “As a best-in-class travel brand with a strong track record in sport, we’re delighted to partner with Thomson Sport. Together we can offer fans of racing, sport and live events a host of special experiences to remember.

“This year, British racing has enjoyed increased attendances and TV audiences. We stage some of the best events in the world at our venues and working with the right partners can help us to broaden our sport’s appeal and keep growing.”

Tom Forshaw, Managing Director of Thomson Sport, added: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with The Jockey Club and for the opportunity to help racegoers see and live the full track experience. Fully inclusive packages will mean enjoying a day at the races couldn’t be easier. Our experience and knowledge across a wide range of sports, as well as travel logistics, allows us to offer exceptional service to racegoers, as well as The Jockey Club itself.”

The agreement also provides Thomson Sport with a package of other rights including the use of The Jockey Club brandmarks; the category designation ‘Official Travel Partner of The Jockey Club’; branding slots to promote Thomson Sport, online links via websites throughout The Jockey Club group, including the new website and promotion in The Jockey Club’s marketing and communications materials.

Thomson Sport was recently appointed Licensed Tour Operator for UEFA Euro 2012. The company is also Official Travel Partner of the NFL in the UK, Official European Fan Travel Partner of the NBA, Official Overseas Travel Provider for englandfans and Official Travel Partner of the Scottish Football Association and Scotland Supporters’ Club.

Thomson Sport joins Jaguar as an Official Partner of The Jockey Club.

The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup has gained a new apparel sponsor in the shape of clothing brand Jack Wolfskin in a four-year deal.

The contract, site  starting from the 2012/13 season, will provide the brand with high levels of worldwide media exposure across Canada, Finland, France, Italy, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and Norway. The deal was brokered by marketing sports group Infront Sports & Media.

Jack Wolfskin’s commitment will be based on a well-structured marketing concept over the majority of Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup events – offering a clearly perceived communication platform and extensive sponsorship opportunities that create exposure in major target markets around the world. Particularly, Jack Wolfskin will benefit from strong brand visibility in camera view across 42 significant races.

The comprehensive marketing package consists of branding at the start and finish areas of the races, logos on athletes’ bibs, flags along the course and logo presence on advertising boards along the ski run as well as on the leader board. With the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup standing out as one of the most popular winter sports series worldwide, extensive television coverage reaching up to 3.1 billion cumulative viewers is expected for all the competitions and around 2 billion for the events represented by Infront (based on IFM evaluation 2010/11). With the commitment to the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup, Jack Wolfskin will reinforce its international expansion in Europe and beyond.

Based in Germany, Jack Wolfskin is one of Europe’s leading outdoor product brands producing outdoor footwear, apparel and equipment. Sports sponsorship is an integral part of the company’s brand communication strategy and besides its strong commitment to football. Jack Wolfskin has also become a renowned player in the world of winter sports. Along with specific Alpine skiing events, the brand has been heavily involved with the prestigious Vierschanzentournee (also an Infront-marketed property) for a number of years. This involvement has been highly beneficial providing tremendous exposure based on two sponsorship packages.

Marcus Pieker, Manager Sponsoring & Events at Jack Wolfskin, said: “The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup provides a great opportunity for us to extend our presence in winter sports and to clearly communicate and target our brand messages to ski and outdoor fans. We are particularly happy to present Jack Wolfskin as a brand with highly functional and technical products to an international audience. Furthermore, the events offer us an exclusive marketing platform and continuous exposure across the entire winter sports season from November to March.”

Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director Winter Sports, added: “Jack Wolfskin’s passion lays in the great outdoors, making it a perfect fit with the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup which is one of the most prestigious series in winter sports. This new sponsorship commitment compliments Jack Wolfskin’s existing sponsorship activities and it is great that the reliability of our partnership has been extended into other properties. The comprehensive package of 42 races will guarantee Jack Wolfskin consistent exposure throughout the entire season, whilst the long-term four year involvement will make the association between the brand and the events even stronger as time goes on.”

Golf’s Wales Open have announced today that they have acquired a new title sponsor International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) for the European tour event and will now be known as the ISPS Handa Wales Open.

The three-year sponsorship deal with ISPS launches an exciting new chapter in the history of the tournament which counts Ryder Cup stars Paul McGinley, Paul Lawrie, Ian Poulter, Miguel Angel Jimenéz, Robert Karlsson and Graeme McDowell among its former champions.

Chaired by Japanese businessman and philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa, ISPS supports the International Blind Golf Association (IBGA) and will be raising the profile of blind and disabled golf through its association with the ISPS Handa Wales Open and other golf tournaments around the world.

The 2012 ISPS Handa Wales Open hosted at the Celtic Maor Resort is from May 31 – June 3 and will be ISPS’s first European Tour event following successful sponsorships of tournaments on the European Senior Tour, Ladies European Tour, Asian Tour, Japanese Golf Tour Organisation, PGA of Japan Seniors Tour, Australian PGA and Legends Tour.

ISPS Chairman Dr Handa said: “ISPS is delighted to become title sponsor of our first European Tour event. The Celtic Manor Resort is a fantastic venue and we are looking forward to working with them on hosting the ISPS Handa Wales Open over the historic Twenty Ten Course for the next three years.

“ISPS is committed to raising the profile of blind and disabled golf throughout the world, having established the International Blind Golf Association (IBGA) in 1998. We believe the ISPS Handa Wales Open offers a great platform from which to promote our mission for golf to become a Paralympic sport.”

Welcoming the sponsorship at The Celtic Manor Resort today was Paul McGinley, who claimed one of his four European Tour victories at Celtic Manor and was a vice-captain of the victorious European 2010 Ryder Cup team at the venue.

McGinley said: “It is always a personal pleasure to return to Celtic Manor, the scene of some of my happiest memories in golf and I am very happy to be here to welcome ISPS as title sponsor of the ISPS Handa Wales Open. On behalf of European Tour players, we look forward to working with them and supporting them in raising the profile of blind and disabled golf.”

With a prize fund of £1.8m and staged on the Twenty Ten Course which hosted such a memorable Ryder Cup in 2010, the ISPS Handa Wales Open has grown into one of the most established golf events in Europe.

Celtic Manor Resort Chief Executive Dylan Matthews said: “We are delighted to welcome ISPS on board as the title sponsor of the ISPS Handa Wales Open.

“It is fantastic news that we are now able to secure the future of the tournament and raise its profile to an even higher level with this ground-breaking three-year partnership.

“It also gives us great pleasure to work with an organisation that does such valuable work in taking golf to new audiences, particularly increasing participation in blind and disabled golf across the world.”

Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer and Director of International Policy of The European Tour, said: “We have developed a strong partnership with ISPS on the European Senior Tour and we are now delighted to welcome Dr Handa to The European Tour International Schedule through their title sponsorship of the ISPS Handa Wales Open.

“The tournament has grown in stature since its inception in 2000 and our Members will look forward to continuing their association with Sir Terry Matthews, and the event he made possible with his vision and commitment, in addition to playing the highly acclaimed Twenty Ten Course.”

Dr Handa has more than 25 years involvement in golf around the world at varying levels of the game. He is International Ambassador to the Asian Tour and the Ladies European Tour. He is also Patron of Golf Australia alongside Greg Norman and Honorary Chairman of the Legends Tour. ISPS is a Major Partner of Faldo Series Asia, Nick Faldo’s golf development programme.

Occupying a prime early summer slot in The European Tour International Schedule, immediately after the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, the ISPS Handa Wales Open has been staged at The Celtic Manor Resort since its inception in 2000.

Many of The European Tour’s biggest names have graced the tournament during its 12-year history. Reigning champion Alexander Noren also claimed the 2011 Nordea Masters in his native Sweden, while 2010 winner McDowell went on to capture the US Open two weeks after his triumph at Celtic Manor.

Serie A powerhouses Juventus have signed a sponsorship deal with Goodyear, medicine the prestigious world leader in the production of pneumatics.

The announcement sees Juventus confirm their first ever deal with a company from the pneumatics sector, while Goodyear make their debut in the world of soccer.

Juventus President Andrea Agnelli, said: “This new partnership develops a research strategy of high-profile commercial agreements. We’re extremely satisfied at the choice that Goodyear have made, returning after years in the sporting world and first time in football to identify Juventus as a trustworthy, valuable single partner. Juventus are certain of the strategic importance of the link which begins with this signature. This will undoubtedly develop in a worthwhile way throughout the course of the football season,  and with reciprocal satisfaction.”

President and Managing Director of Goodyear Dunlop Tires Italia, Luca Crepaccoli, added: “Another important step in our communication strategy and will contribute to giving the company further coverage and prestige. Sponsoring such a top-quality football team allows us to strengthen the interaction with all drivers, also offering new entertainment opportunities to our clients. Thanks to this partnership, we’ll further bolster  the already close link with the Fiat Group, of which Goodyear is already the supplier of pneumatics that comply with carbon savings and different car models, including the new Fiat 500 and Lancia New Ypsilon.”

Brewery Heineken is set to sponsor Nigeria’s Ikoyi Club Ladies Golf Open Championship tournament which tees off between December 1 and 2, 2011 at the prestigious Ikoyi Club, Lagos.

Jacqueline Van Faassen, Senior Brand Manager, Heineken said: “Heineken is a premium international brand and we have decided to associate with golf as an international sport .We have decided to endorse the Ikoyi Club Ladies Golf Open Championship because it is different and also helps to depict the strength that lies in women.

“Sports in Nigeria are going through tough times and we intend to help build the image and standard of sports through continuous support”.

The two-day tournament, hosted by the Lady Golfers, Ikoyi Club 1938, is in its 37th year running and would feature lady golfers from golf clubs all over Nigeria. who would participate in the tourney.

International sporting goods retailer, Intersport has become an Official Sponsor of the Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course (FIL), with presenting sponsorship at the Team Relay World Cups.

The sponsorship rights package includes advertising opportunities at the Viessmann World Cup and the Viessmann Team Relay World Cup presented by Intersport throughout the 2011/2012 calendar season.

Franz Julen, CEO of Intersport International Corp., said: “The sport of luge is fast and exciting. We are delighted with the opportunity to associate our brand with this sport.”

Josef Fendt, President of FIL, added: “We are really pleased to have an additional agreement in place with such an important partner that works well alongside our Official Sponsors including Viessmann and Eberspächer. As an international sports association we consider the commitment of Intersport – the world-wide leading sports retailer, as an extremely appealing match for the sport of luge.”

The 2011/2012 season will be launched on 26 November 2011 with the Viessmann World Cup including Team Relay in Innsbruck-Igls, Austria. The official FIL calendar includes nine World Cup races as well as the FIL World Championships, taking place on 11 and 12 February 2012 in Altenberg, Germany. All event competitions include women’s and men’s singles as well as doubles. There are a total of six events featured in the new Team Relay format.

Germany’s ARD/ZDF will cover the FIL events comprehensively in Germany while Eurosport will provide television coverage on a pan-European level. Broadcasts of the last FIL World Cup season achieved a strong cumulative audience figure of over 400 million in total with Germany being the strongest market – achieving a cumulative broadcast time of over 30 hours and an audience totalling 320 million.

Electronic Arts (EA) Inc. announced that EA Sports has signed the world’s top soccer player, drugs Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, to a multi-year endorsement contract that will see him become the global face of the EA Sports FIFA Soccer franchise.

The FIFA Ballon d’Or 2010 winner has transferred from the Pro Evolution Soccer franchise to EA Sports and makes his debut in March, 2012 on the cover of FIFA Street.

Matt Bilbey, Vice President and GM of Soccer, EA Sports, said: “Our FIFA franchise is the number one selling sports videogame franchise in the world, and Lionel Messi is the number one player in the world, so this agreement is a true partnership of superstars. With Messi on our team we have the world’s best and most exciting player to help EA Sports maintain its global leadership in the years ahead.”

“I want to be part of the team behind the best sports game in the world and be associated with the great EA Sports name,” said Messi. “EA Sports is a brand that shares my values of creativity, excellence and social responsibility.”

Playing for FC Barcelona, Messi received the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or 2010 award as the top soccer player in the world, was UEFA Champions League Top Goal Scorer the past three years, is the three-time La Liga Player of the Year, and has made the shortlist for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or. At just 24, Messi has scored over 200 goals in all competitions and currently sits second in the rankings of Barcelona’s all-time leading goal scorers. He has scored 27 goals and 14 assists in 29 games this season in all competitions.

The multi-faceted partnership will see Messi become an EA Sports Ambassador. He will become the cornerstone of marketing and advertising campaigns, featured on packaging, and utilized in social media activities around the world for the critically acclaimed FIFA Soccer franchise. EA Sports will also team up with the Leo Messi Foundation to support social, educational and health care related initiatives for children around the world.

The EA Sports FIFA Soccer series, now in its 19^th year, sold a record-breaking 3.2 million copies of FIFA Soccer 12 in the first five days after launching to become the biggest launch in the history of sports videogames.