Jolly Blast Productions an integrated media and entertainment company have partnered with NFL superstar Tony Gonzalez to deliver a new series of sports adventure apps and eBooks.

The adventure series will feature an animated version of Tony Gonzalez, five-time NFL All-Pro tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons, who as “Coach Tony” will encourage children to get active and spark a lifelong love for games and movement.

“The benefits for kids who are educated and inspired to be active go far beyond the courts and playing fields,” said Gonzalez, who is the second leading receiver in NFL history. “Whether it’s an organized sport, a school playground activity or a made-up backyard game, kids who learn to develop discipline, teamwork and self-confidence, as well as physical health and fitness, are enriched for a lifetime. A body in motion is always going to be healthier and happier — and that’s the message Jolly Balst is excited to share.”

Gonzalez, who starred in high school in football, basketball and volleyball in Southern California, knows firsthand the positive influence sports can have on children growing up. He parlayed his athletic ability into a football scholarship at the University of California Berkeley, where he also played on the school’s basketball team. Drafted in 1997, Gonzalez is now in his 15^th season of a Hall of Fame NFL career.

Jeffery Eagle, Chairman and CEO of Jolly Blast Productions, said: “Having Tony as an active part of our creative design team, as well as integrated directly into our stories, brings authenticity and star power to our series. Tony has long been a proud supporter of youth sports, health nutrition and anti-childhood obesity initiatives, and together we are pursuing the dual mission of entertaining children while opening their lives to the countless benefits that come from being active.”

Jolly Blast Productions was founded by a group of dads, including Michael Diminick, M.D. and Kevin Bonner, M.D., who are former Division I collegiate athletes and current orthopedic surgeons. Together with Eagle, a successful writer/director and youth sports coach, the trio developed the animated world of siblings, Jolly and Holly Blast, whose fun-filled imaginative adventures introduce children to positive and healthy life choices through world of sports, games and physical activity.

Saxo Bank, the trading and investment specialist, will take over the full title sponsorship of Riis Cycling of the UCI Tour in 2012.

In 2011 the sponsorship was held jointly with SunGard, one of the world’s leading software and technology services companies, but Saxo Bank has now decided to exercise an option to step up and become the sole title sponsor. All three parties have agreed that the timing is now right for a smooth transition, where SunGard will discontinue its sponsorship.

Saxo Bank has sponsored Riis Cycling since 2008, and Saxo Bank’s decision to once again become sole title sponsor of the team is based on a genuine wish to support the team and a commercial decision to further build on the advantages that Saxo Bank believes are extended through this additional commitment to Riis Cycling.

Riis Cycling’s team owner Bjarne Riis said: “Since 2008 Saxo Bank and Riis Cycling have proven to be a great match. I am proud that a truly professional company such as Saxo Bank not only continues to see the commercial benefits in sponsoring our teams, but also shows its commitment and faith in our work by stepping up to become the sole title sponsor. This is evidence of a great partnership, and I’m convinced there are many more gains to be realized from this relationship in the future.”

In a joint statement, Kim Fournais and Lars Seier Christensen, co-CEOs and co-founders of Saxo Bank, added: “Saxo Bank was offered an option to become the sole title sponsor of Riis Cycling, which was an offer we could not turn down. From the outset, we have sincerely wanted to support Bjarne Riis and his team and with our continued geographical expansion, the sponsorship also makes good sense commercially. While the decision to continue as full title sponsor is a strategic one, our past collaboration with the team has been fantastic, and we are looking forward to watching Team Saxo Bank race across the streets of the world in 2012.”

SunGard became a sponsor of Riis Cycling below title level in 2010. This paved the way for SunGard to announce the co-title sponsorship deal for 2011 and 2012 during the 2010 Tour de France.

Bjarne Riis continued: “We have had a great partnership with SunGard, and I’m forever grateful for SunGard believing in us and stepping up to sponsoring the team at title level at what was a very difficult moment for the team, but SunGard did never hide that this wasn’t part of their long-term strategy.”

With Saxo Bank ready to take over the full title sponsorship again, the parties have agreed for SunGard to step down and terminate SunGard’s deal for next year. The agreement has no influence on the 2012 team budget.

George Thomas, SunGard’s vice president of communications said: “We have had a successful partnership with Riis Cycling over the past two years and we are pleased that we were part of the team’s success. The decision to end our sponsorship was a business decision and not related to the team.  We know we are leaving them with a great sponsor in Saxo Bank and we wish them much continued success.”

In 2012 the name of the professional cycling team will be “Team Saxo Bank Professional Cycling Team.”

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) have announced  that it has renewed its sponsorship agreement with NEC Corporation as title sponsor of the Wheelchair Tennis Tour and season ending Wheelchair Tennis Masters for a further two years, online 2012-13. 

NEC celebrated 20 years of partnership with the ITF in 2011. The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour, anabolics organised by the ITF, herbal originated in 1992 with 11 international tournaments, but has grown to its current total of over 170 tournaments in more than 40 countries offering over $1 million in prize money. The NEC Tour includes the wheelchair tennis events at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters was started in 1994 as the official year-end singles championship for the sport’s leading players, and currently features the top eight men and women, and top four quad athletes.

ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “We are grateful for the continued support of the NEC Corporation, which has been a loyal and hardworking partner of the ITF’s wheelchair tennis activities. Its commitment and enthusiasm has helped wheelchair tennis become one of the fastest growing Paralympic sports, and we look forward to the ongoing expansion of the Wheelchair Tennis Tour.”

Hitoshi Suzuki, General Manager of Social Contributions and CSR Promotions, NEC Corporation, added: “As one of the leading global ICT companies, ICT for everyone is at the core of NEC’s beliefs, but we believe that meaningful community involvement is needed in addition to business pursuits. Sport for everyone is as important as ICT for everyone in helping create a society with much more diversity. This is the key reason that NEC has been sponsoring wheelchair tennis for many years.”

India’s leading poultry manufacturing brand, Venky’s, has come on board as the title sponsor for the Mumbai Fighters, an Indian Boxing team at the World Series of Boxing.

Mrs. Anuradha Desai, Chairperson, VH Group said, “Venky’s is delighted to partner the Mumbai Fighters and the young Indian boxers as they set out on their journey to success in the WSB and the Olympics. We are hopeful that individually these boxers will prosper and add to the Indian representation at the Olympics. At Venky’s, sports have always been a major part of our strategy to ensure that athletes and sportspeople focus on their jobs but also to associate them with a healthy way of living. This is the first global boxing league and the first and only Indian team in this global league: and for a brand like ours, this seemed like a ‘perfect fit’.”

A further boost to boxing and the Fighters is the association of India’s leading youth fashion brand, Provogue. Apart from being the sponsors, Provogue would be dressing up the boxers in their top of the line casual and formal wear, hosting a fashion show and upping the profile of the Fighters.

Salil Chaturvedi, Deputy Managing Director at Provogue India Limited, added ”We are very excited at the prospect of associating Provogue with the Mumbai Fighters. Globally we have observed that boxing is entertaining, fun and has glamour. Hence, as a brand we see it as a worthy association.”

Speaking on the association with these two leading brands, Udit Sheth, Team Principal for the Mumbai Fighters said, “We are honoured to have two market leaders confirming our faith in this sports property, which we are sure will hugely grow in the foreseeable future. Venkys have long been associated with sport and with them coming on board we are sure that the Fighters brand will create a real buzz from a marketing perspective”. On the Provogue association, Mr Sheth added, “It is important for our people in India to see that boxers represent the ultimate in good health and fitness. Combine that with the entertainment and glamour factor that boxing enjoys globally, this is the platform that Provogue have been sharp to recognise. Their clothing will embellish our boxers and the brand substantially.”

Mr. J. S. Gujral, Vice-President of Marketing at Setco Automotive Limited, an associate sponsor of Mumbai Fighters said, “We are proud of being linked with World Series Boxing through the Mumbai Fighters. Moreover, the sport of Boxing synergises very well with the vision and brand identity of Setco Automotive where our products also share the values of strength, endurance and precision. We hope to grow our brand through this synergy and association”.

American Swimming superstar Michael Phelps has struck up a lucrative endorsement deal with the International Olympic Committee’s newest worldwide partner, Procter & Gamble.

Under the terms of the deal, Phelps who has won 14 Olympic gold medals will become the global face of an anti-dandruff shampoo and will feature prominently in their Wash in Confidence campaign.

Belen Carazo, director of global communications for Head & Shoulders, said: “Michael Phelps is a three-time Olympian and one of the most iconic global athletes of our time. We feel that Michael Phelps is a great ambassador for confidence — when performing at the highest level of sport, there is simply no room for doubt.”

P&G said the contract with Phelps would run for two years, until 2013. The company would not reveal the financial terms of the deal although industry experts said the swimmer’s fee would almost certainly be a seven-figure sum.

“At this point of his career, it’s not about financial remuneration for Michael,” Peter Carlisle, Phelps’ agent at sports marketing firm Octagon, told Reuters.

“His promotion of a product has to go much deeper and allow him to accomplish more things.

“Michael has always wanted to help grow the sport of swimming and he needs global brands that can help him spread his message all over the world.”

Carlisle, who has worked with Phelps for around a decade, has been flooded by endorsement offers for his client but said less than 10 per cent ever get signed because of the complexity of striking a deal with the most decorated Olympian of all time and his ambition to spread his message worldwide.

“He’s one of the few truly global ionic athletes, but only a few brands can really match him. That’s why this was such a compelling match for both sides,” Carlisle said.

As much as anything else, the deal with P&G also serves as testimony to Phelps’s rising popularity and pulling power after his record-breaking eight gold medal haul at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

His public image took a battering when the now defunct British tabloid News of the World published photographs of him inhaling from a glass pipe used for smoking marijuana, but he has survived unscathed.

Phelps apologised and was suspended by USA Swimming for three months, but his sponsors stuck with him despite ongoing speculation they would ditch him en masse. Only Kellogg’s, whose deal with Phelps was about to expire shortly after the pictures were published, did not renew their contract with him.

Phelps, now 26, weathered the storm and is steadily adding more companies to his bulging portfolio in the final countdown to London, his fourth and final Olympics before he hangs up his goggles.

“Who would have thought, five years ago, that a swimmer would sign a deal for a hair product,” Phelps told Reuters in an interview.

“But this was a good match and it’s a product I have actually used for years because I’m in chlorine so much.

“My sponsors are like family. Some have been with me from step one. They have always supported me through the good times and bad times.”

Repercussions of NBA players rejecting a new deal and jeopardising a future deal has already been seen with one sponsor already refusing to pay NBA teams.

MillerCoors, which spends heavily on sports advertising and has sponsorship deals with many NBA teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks, announced it was withholding all payments to its NBA partners until a resolution to the lockout is found.

Peter Marino, a MillerCoors spokesman, said the decision was made after players rejected the NBA’s latest offer. He said the payments will be made in full upon resolution of the bitter dispute.

MillerCoors has been a major sponsor of the Bucks for years. While it is not known what the deal is worth, SportsBusiness Journal reported that three-quarters of MillerCoors’ total TV advertising spending last year – about $214 million – was dedicated to sports.

In addition to MillerCoors, BMO Harris Bank has a sponsorship arrangement with the Bucks and had been speculated to stop payments as well. But a spokesman said the bank had not suspended payments to the Bucks.

“We have been and continue to be a proud sponsor of the Milwaukee Bucks,” said bank spokesman Jim Kappel.

Australian Rugby Union (ARU) announced today the global foreign exchange broker FxPro has secured the domestic naming rights to Super Rugby for the next four years.

FxPro Super Rugby will kick off in 2012 with the last weekend in February launching a new relationship between ARU and a world leader in the foreign exchange industry.

The unveiling of the new name and logo for FxPro Super Rugby was made in Sydney where star players from the five Australian Conference teams also modelled their new strips for the coming season.

Super Rugby moved to a Conference format in 2011, ed expanded its finals series and welcomed a new team in the Melbourne Rebels – giving Australia parity with SANZAR partners New Zealand and South Africa who also field five sides in the championship.

For 2012 there will be a further new-look with the addition of FxPro to Super Rugby under a deal with ARU that will continue until the end of 2015.

FxPro’s logo will appear on the official match ball at each game in Australia, arthritis and the official match jerseys and shorts for all five Australian franchises – the NSW Waratahs, ampoule Queensland Reds, Melbourne Rebels, Western Force and The Brumbies.

FxPro branding will also be prominently displayed in-stadium and on-screen at all Super Rugby matches played in Australia.

The five Australian teams currently play 16 matches each during the Super Rugby season – including eight each at home for a collective total of 40 games in Australia.

Four of the eight home matches are local derbies with the Australian teams also hosting two teams from each of the South African and New Zealand Conferences.

Of their eight away matches for Australian teams, four are played in Australia as “away” local derbies. The only matches an Australian team plays outside the country are the two games they face in both New Zealand and South Africa.

ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill AO welcomed the announcement of FxPro as the new Australian naming rights partner for Super Rugby.

“We’re delighted to welcome FxPro into the framework of Australian Rugby through a now well-established championship that is unquestionably the best of its type in the world,” O’Neill said. The status of Super Rugby clearly has an alignment with the objectives of FxPro and we believe the relationship will be enormously beneficial to both parties.

“Having a foreign exchange broker with offices across a large number of nations is fitting for a championship that is unique – being played across three territories as diverse as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

“There is not another regular Rugby competition of such magnitude and length that has as broad a reach as Super Rugby.”

Jim Manczak, Chief Marketing Officer, said: “The decision to partner with the ARU and Super Rugby is a natural fit with the future ambitions of the business, and we are delighted to be partnered with such an exciting and popular tournament,” he said.

“FxPro Super Rugby is a showcase for the world’s best rugby players and the Australian teams are home to some of the biggest stars in the game like James O’Connor, James Horwill, Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, David Pocock and Will Genia.

“We wish all of the teams the best of luck for the upcoming season.”

FxPro, which has recently expanded its operations into Australia with the opening of a Sydney office, already boasts an impressive arsenal of sporting sponsorships.

The award-winning foreign exchange broker currently sponsors Fulham in the English Premier League, the Asian Football Confederation Champions League, the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), and previously partnered with Formula One teams.

With the lineup for Euro 2012 completed UEFA has announced Bank Pekao SA as Poland’s second national sponsor for Euro 2012.

UniCredit member Bank Pekao is the leading financial institution in Poland with more than 1,000 branches, 18,000 employees and 4.5 million customers. It will be in charge of all financial transactions and account handling related to Euro 2012 in Poland.

As the second national sponsor for Euro 2012, following in the footsteps of chocolate brand E. Wedel, Bank Pekao will benefit from a wide range of rights including the ability to run ticket promotions for its customers. It will also have its brand presence in official premises of the final tournament.

UEFA operations director Martin Kallen said: “We are delighted and proud to welcome Bank Pekao as a member of the UEFA Euro 2012 sponsors’ family and are looking forward to working with them in the delivery of the tournament.

“UEFA Euro 2012 involves a number of financial transactions, from the payment of suppliers to the handling of ticketing and corporate hospitality sales’ accounts and it is therefore extremely important to be able to count on the expertise of Bank Pekao in this respect.”

Luigi Lovaglio, CEO of Bank Pekao SA, added: “We are very proud to become an official sponsor of UEFA Euro 2012. This kind of cooperation is a key for us. It is a very important event and we cannot miss it. We are a leading institution in this country and we feel a responsibility to help with the development of Poland.

“Now, by becoming Official Bank for UEFA Euro 2012 we will stand as an even more significant partner of this extraordinary event being close to our customers and employees emotions. Together we are writing a new chapter in the history of Poland. We are very proud of it.”

The Euro 2012 commercial programme consists of ten sponsors with global rights, as well as four national sponsor slots each for companies in Poland and Ukraine. National sponsors’ rights are limited to the territory of the designated host country. Three have already been announced in Ukraine: Epicenter K, Ukrtelecom JSC and Ukrsotsbank PJSC.

Norwich City FC are not known for their trend setting but they may have started one as they have changed their shirt sponsorship for one game becoming the first team in the Premier League to do so.

A logo for the Railway Children charity will replace Aviva on the front of the Canaries’ shirts for Saturday’s clash against Arsenal, which is being televised live on Sky Sports.

City Chief Executive David McNally said: “Norwich City are delighted to support Aviva’s charity partnership with Railway Children. It is a great opportunity for our fans to show their support and to raise the profile of such an important cause.”

This is the fourth year that Aviva has given away its Norwich City shirt sponsorship to charities.

This year’s sponsorship marks the continuation of Aviva’s commitment to its chosen national charity, Railway Children, which helps raise awareness of the fact that every year in the UK an estimated 100,000 young people under the age of 16 run away from home.

Aviva’s work with Railway Children is part of its five-year global ‘Street to School’ programme to raise awareness and support for children living and working on the streets around the world.

Terina Keene, Railway Children, Chief Executive said: “It’s a chilling fact that every year in the UK 100,000 young people under the age of 16 run away from home.

“Having survived a difficult home environment, many young runaways have lost their trust in adults and see the streets as their only alternative if they feel they cannot live at home any longer. Faced with limited choices and not knowing where to turn, many end up living alone on the streets, where they are at risk of violence, sexual abuse and drug or alcohol dependency.

“We fight for children living on the streets everyday, and we are delighted that Norwich City, through our partners Aviva, have embraced Railway Children and our cause so wholeheartedly. This game will provide a much needed boost to Railway Children’s work across the UK, by raising awareness of the issue, as well as much-needed funds.”

Anne Filatotchev, marketing director, Aviva UK added: “Aviva works with Railway Children to raise awareness about the issue of young runaways. With the high profile nature of our Norwich City sponsorship and of Barclays Premier League football in general, we have the perfect opportunity to raise awareness nationally of the important work this charity does.”

L’Oréal have become the official lifestyle partner and supplier to the World Snowboarding Championships in February 2012.

The deal was brokered by IMG Media, a division of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company.

The agreement will allow L’Oréal Norway to receive category exclusivity, worldwide branding, onsite activation and to be incorporated in all official event marketing. Furthermore, L’Oréal Norway is planning various activities and competitions to promote their L’Oreal brands, including L’Oreal Men Expert and Garnier.

The World Snowboarding Championships (WSC), held every four years, brings the best 240 snowboarders from 30 countries together in the highest quality competitive freestyle snowboard environment in the world. A monster quarter pipe event in the legendary Holmenkollen ski jumping arena will kick start the finals, offering equal prize money to the rider who can impress with the biggest jumps in this extremely demanding show competition.

The pinnacle event of the snowboarding calendar, the event crowns a male and female World Champion in both slopestyle and halfpipe competitions. The WSC is the platform for riders to take snowboarding to the next level, setting the standard for future tournaments and events. IMG Media serves as the event’s media partner.

Floris Weisz, Sales Executive, IMG Media, said: “We are very excited to have brokered the deal to bring L’Oréal on board as the Official Lifestyle Partner and Supplier for the World Snowboarding Championships 2012. L’Oréal itself, as well as Men Expert and Garnier, are extremely strong brands that appeal to the young fans and riders themselves. L’Oréal will have a great opportunity to showcase their brands to the Norwegian consumer and beyond.”

Jan van der Lee, Commercial Director L’Oréal Norway, commented: “We are very proud to be the official lifestyle sponsor of the World Snowboarding Championship, and see this as an excellent opportunity to reach our target group — both men and women. We have visited the WSC organization and checked out their plans for the event. Everything from arenas to the concert venue is amazing, and we can’t wait to make everyone look even better with great products from L’Oréal Men Expert and Garnier Skin Naturals.”

Henning Andersen, Director World Snowboard Championships, added: “You can’t win the World Snowboarding Championships without style — neither at day nor night. Style is crucial to impress the judges in daytime. At night, L’Oréal makes all look good as the lifestyle partner of the World Snowboarding Championships. Not only is L’Oréal one of the first sponsor to support us, but they also bring fun activities to the event. We are very grateful with this partnership.”