The United States Export-Import Bank has launched a new US$1bn incentive scheme for Brazilian companies involved in projects for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, following a visit to the country by President Barack Obama.

Obama’s visit was made, in some part, in order to drum up business for US companies, adding that they want to “be one of your best customers” when Brazil starts pumping oil from offshore reserves.

Fred Hochberg, the President of the Bank, said that the money must be used to purchase products made by US companies, stating: “I’m hopeful that we can use this first $1 billion for infrastructure as the beginning of building our portfolio and building our work with Brazilian companies.”

Gary Locke, US Commerce Secretary, also met privately with representatives from FIESP (Federacao das Industrias do Estado de Sao Paulo), which represents many of Brazil’s leading companies, and added: “There are many opportunities to increase bilateral trade and it will happen with the 2014 World Cup and the Olympic Games in 2016.

“We can help with the infrastructure.”

Hochberg hopes the new financing serves as a beginning of a period of faster growth for Ex-Im Bank’s operations in Brazil, continuing: “This should be only the beginning, so that the financing to Brazilian companies reach a higher level.”

Obama made a speech to Brazil’s Municipal theatre saying that his country intends to help Brazil in the projects for the Games, stating: “We need world-class infrastructures, which is why US companies want to help you build and prepare this city for an Olympic success.”

Having been a high-profile backer of Chicago’s opposition to the bid of the Rio 2016 Olympics, Obama was powerless to prevent Rio winning the campaign despite showing up at the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Session at Copenhagen in October 2009.

Obama added: “As you probably know Rio was not my first option for the Games.

“But, as the Olympics will not be hosted in Chicago, I think there is not a better place than Rio do Janeiro. 

“I will come back in 2016 to attend the Games.”

In a renewal of a sponsorship deal with the National Basketball Association (NBA), pills the Coca-Cola Company will look to promote its Sprite brand after sealing a new ‘multi-year’ global marketing partnership with the league.

Coca-Cola, an NBA marketing partner since 1986, has used the partnership to promote several different brands in its portfolio and this year, for the first time, Sprite will be the lead brand to be associated with the NBA having been the official soft drink of the league in the US since 1994.

The Sprite Slam Dunk during NBA All-Star weekend and the Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown amateur competition will continue under the terms of the deal, with a number of other marketing activities will take place.

“Our partnership with the NBA offers the flexibility and collaboration to create innovative marketing programs that spark the connection between Sprite and basketball fans. Through programs like Sprite Slam Dunk, Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown and others, we’re able to communicate with people online, on television, through mobile technology, locally and at retail, so that we’re in touch with NBA fans wherever they are,” said Beatriz Perez, chief marketing officer of Coca-Cola North America.

NBA executive vice-president of global marketing partnerships Mark Tatum added: “Sprite is an exciting and vibrant brand that maintains a meaningful connection to the younger consumers that also make up a valuable segment of our fan base. We look forward to working together to develop more exciting and innovative NBA experiences that will resonate with this audience around the world.”

Radio Sport has been appointed by Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) as the Official Radio Broadcaster for Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand and will also act as the host broadcaster of the event.

In a deal that will deliver unprecedented coverage of the largest event ever to be hosted in New Zealand, the country’s largest national radio network will produce and broadcast all 48 matches through its stable of stations.

Under the deal Radio Sport will also produce a clean world feed of all 48 matches for the events official website and other radio rights holding broadcasters, giving Rugby World Cup 2011 a radio broadcast platform that will cover over 200 territories worldwide.

RWCL Managing Director Mike Miller stated: “We are delighted that we’ve been able to secure Radio Sport as Radio Host Broadcaster for Rugby World Cup 2011. They will bring their unique sound, style and passion for live sport to a Tournament that is firmly established as one of the world’s premier sports events.

“Radio Sport through its stable of network stations is recognised as the home for Rugby on the radio in New Zealand and this will be reinforced by them carrying every minute of the Tournament live to the host country. It is another step in the Tournament offering unparalleled coverage to New Zealand.”

Dallas Gurney, General Manager of Talk Programming for The Radio Network, added: “Rugby World Cup 2011 is a huge event for New Zealand and we are thrilled to be able to cover it so comprehensively.”

Detailed plans have been revealed regarding the Football Association’s (FA) plans to launch a new Women’s Super League for English soccer. The league will consist of the top 8 club’s in the country and is backed by a television deal which will run from April until August of next year.

The news comes as the most significant in the history of women’s soccer in England though the FA are being conservative in their approach after the American league, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) has hit hard times of late.

Head of the National game at the FA, Kelly Simmons said: “We’re not going too big too quick. We won’t have full squads of professional footballers straight away. Ours is more of a conservative approach, which we think is more sustainable. It is a very different model. The US have struggled, they invested too much in salaries. They haven’t got the revenue to pay the salaries they’re paying, and their costs are much higher than us because of travel.”

The FA have revealed that US$3.1m worth of investment will be provided to support the plans over the next two years. Half of this will go directly to the clubs and the rest will cover the running costs of the league including central contracts for 20 England players at $24,000 a year. The new funding brings the FA’s support of the plans for women’s soccer in England to $4.7m.

Major broadcasting company ESPN have been announced as the official rights holder to air 30-minute weekly highlights along with 5 live matches from the first season. Although the league will not command any TV revenue, the FA will not be expected to cover production costs for ESPN – a rarity in women’s sport.

While the WPS offers significantly improved wage packages than in this country, the new Super League is unlikely to attract international stars, though this is not the priority according to England Women’s team manager, Hope Powell. Powell stated: “If I’m honest there’s great talent around the world, but my ambition is to have this league produce homegrown talent. I’d like it to be an all-English league that encourages younger players coming through.”

Vladimir Putin, sale the former President of Russia, medstore has stated that he believes that the hosting of the 2018 World Cup will prove a catalyst for positive societal and economic changes in the nation. In the upgrading of infrastructure of the 13 World Cup host cities, discount an estimated US$10bn will be spent, though Putin claimed that the benefits would be far greater than the cost.

Speaking on a live TV call-in show on 16 December, Putin said: “It will have an entirely positive influence on the future of the country. All of this (infrastructure development) will be left to the people and will serve them for decades. It will facilitate a healthy way of life. There will be less crime and less drug-taking.”

Putin also admitted that Sochi may have been doomed were it not to have won the 2014 Winter Games: “I hate to say it, but maybe we would never have done it (in Sochi), but now they are getting roads, gas pipes and new electricity stations,” he added.

“When we talk about the FIFA World Cup, we are talking about 13 cities,” Putin continued. “It won’t be as grand-scale an infrastructure project as in Sochi, but it still requires a lot of work on building roads, expanding airports and train stations. There is a proposal to set up express rail services between the host cities. I have every confidence that we’ll do a great job with the World Cup.”

Sports agency MB Partners has announced it will be the exclusive promoter and commercial partner for the exciting new Formula Kart Stars championship that starts in 2015.

British based Formula Kart Stars (FKS) is a new karting championship offering young driving talent the first steps onto the motorsport ladder supported with an educational program. FKS will allow competitors from 8-16 to compete in a world-class karting series at a fixed cost with controlled equipment for equal performance racing, medicine giving more emphasis on the driver’s ability.

The championship is already receiving high levels of interest since being announced at the British Grand Prix in front of the F1 teams and drivers. FKS will set new standards in karting with an environment that will be more in keeping with an F1 paddock and pit area so that competitors and commercial partners can operate at the level that reflects a new generation of karting with a controlled formula on and off track.

The championship is backed and endorsed by Formula One Management & Bernie Ecclestone who has supported FKS since 2009 and has been active in his guidance in the formulation of the new championship for 2015. It is also endorsed by Former FKS superstar and former F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, impotent who recently quoted, “I wouldn’t be here without this Championship, Karting is where I learnt all my skills, it’s really where I built my foundation to enable me to drive the way I do today.”

Mark Blundell, CEO of MB Partners, said “I am very pleased that MB Partners will be working with FKS as the promoter and commercial partner; it’s an exciting concept and one that I think is needed in junior motorsport. We have some exciting plans ahead and with the support of Bernie Ecclestone and recognition from several F1 teams there is a great buzz surrounding the championship and we hope to take karting to a new level whilst hopefully finding the next generation of F1 drivers for future years.” 

The Chairman of the Formula Kart Stars, Carolynn Hoy, said in regards to MBP,  “We are very excited to have partnered with MBP in what is another substantial move into a new era for FKS. Mark and his team have an exceptional track record in their field. The opportunities from working with MBP will be greatly beneficial not only to the Championship, but importantly to the competitors themselves.”