Sportswear manufacturer Nike, and LiveStrong, the Lance Armstrong cancer foundation, have expanded their signature clothing and apparel collection from the United States to Canada, France and the United Kingdom.

The new global collection of LiveStrong footwear, apparel and accessories launched on 1 July in the three countries with their new Fall 2010 collection.

Lance Armstrong, founder of LiveStrong, said: “I’m very proud to see LiveStrong further our mission internationally, build momentum and give people the resources and support they need to fight cancer effectively.

“We’ve found innovative ways to raise awareness, but the fight is far from over and so I’m encouraged to see LiveStrong make an impact in Canada, France and the UK.”

The Fall 2010 LiveStrong collection ranges from footwear to apparel and accessories. The collection has grown hugely since the popular yellow wristbands were first introduced in 2004, with more than 70 million of them having been distributed to date.

Since they teamed up in 2004, Nike has helped LiveStrong raise over US$80 million.

 

The International Judo Federation (IJF) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA).

The new agreement builds on the two parties signing a deal last June.

The aim of the collaboration is that the two organizations which have been working independently, doctor maintaining their independence, will continue to work on the development of universal judo jointly coordinated.

IBSA has been the only official representative of the blind and organized impaired judo since 1981. 

Darlington’s Northern Echo Arena will host the fourth leg of the 2014 Premiership Rugby Sevens series, it has been announced today.

The announcement was made after Newcastle Falcons today announced they will be moving the 2nd August event from their Kingston Park Stadium.

The stadium is the largest dedicated club rugby venue in England. With a capacity of 27,500 it also boasts space for over 550 corporate guests, 1,500 car parking spaces and bars and catering outlets for all supporters.

The Falcons’ new 3G artificial rugby pitch at Kingston Park will be ready for the new Aviva Premiership Rugby season but not in time for the 7s event. Instead the event will take place at the home of Darlington Mowden Park RFC. 

Featuring Newcastle Falcons, Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks and London Welsh, the event will see six fast-paced 7s matches between the four teams in a round robin tournament. 

The team that tops the standings will receive the Group stage silverware and along with the group runners-up will go forward to the Premiership 7s Series Finals at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday 8^th August.

Speaking about the announcement Darlington Mowden Park Arena Manager Danny Brown said: “We are delighted that the Northern Echo Arena has been chosen to host the Premiership Rugby 7s Series. This is a big event for the town of Darlington and it’s great that the Premiership Rugby 7s Series has been able to remain in the north east. We have a first class facility here and we can’t wait to show it off to the thousands that will attend and the many more watching live on BT Sport.”

Commenting on the venue switch Newcastle Falcons’ Managing Director Mick Hogan added: “The build process with our new 3G pitch has slipped slightly and over the weekend, it has become clear that its completion could not be guaranteed by 2^nd August. Rather than hurry the process that could result in shortcuts on the installation, we had no hesitation in proposing to Premiership Rugby that the event be moved to Darlington. 

“To have the best pitch in the Aviva Premiership Rugby for years to come remains our number one priority and by working with Mowden Park and using their superb facility, we do not have to take any unnecessary risks on that.”

“Darlington will be a great venue for the 7s. The full entertainment package planned will still take place and we believe more of our fans in the south of the region will now be able to come along. The venue is just off the A1 and there will be free parking for all supporters. Furthermore the club will be offering low cost bus travel for fans with details to follow in the next 48 hours.”

“The Darlington Arena is one of English club rugby’s hidden gems and we are delighted to be taking the fourth group stage of the Premiership Rugby 7s there at the start of next month,” said the Commercial Director at Premiership Rugby, Dominic Hayes.

Ruffles potato chips have launched a new digital media campaign and enlisted the support of newly appointed New York Jets wide receiver, Eric Decker.

Decker will star in a digital short, released today, that features Decker helping a guy through his own #RoughLife moment – having planned an unforgettable date night on the same night as the NFL Draft.  Decker’s recent experience — moving from a franchise where he was already well-established, to a team in one of the most exciting cities in the world — is in itself a #RoughLife experience that has cemented Decker’s role as a relatable expert who can help people face their own #RoughLife moments. 

“When I first signed with my new team, I thought about how I was going to have to move my family across the country, join a new team environment, and build new relationships. But then I realized — ‘this isn’t really a problem — I’m going to play for a great organization in the greatest city,'” said Decker who was drafted to the NFL in 2010.

“The Ruffles brand has long prided itself in being a solution to a major problem our fans face — needing a sturdier chip to withstand the pressure of their thick dip. Now we’re bringing to light the multitude of other ‘problems’ our fans deal with on a daily basis, offering a platform for them to voice their quote-unquote rough stories,” said Christina Menendez, senior director of marketing, Frito-Lay. “The #RoughLife campaign celebrates the absurd and hilarious nature of consumers’ trivial problems that have permeated pop-culture in recent years.”

Retail fund management company Octopus Investments has hired sport and entertainment agency Generate to activate its 2014 sponsorship, PR & digital activation within T20 cricket. 

The brand’s cricket sponsorship portfolio includes partnerships with the Surrey Lions and the Birmingham Bears in this summer’s T20 competition. The association with both counties extends to stadium branding at iconic test match grounds and shirt sponsorship during home T20 games.

Generate will be working with Octopus Investments to plan and deliver its 2014 cricket activity, which focuses on building the brand’s awareness and delivering a tangible business return. Domestic T20 has undergone an exciting makeover this year as a new look fixture schedule will see the majority of group stage matches take place on Friday nights over the 10-week competition, which starts in May 2014.

Octopus Investments will continue to deliver the best match day experience possible for its clients throughout the season, as well as supporting the T20 game at both counties.

Nigel Spencer, Marketing Director at Octopus Investments, said: “At Octopus we want to work with smart, helpful and passionate people and Generate really ticks these boxes. Our involvement in Twenty20 cricket is a key part of our strategy to get involved with more people. We love the fun and excitement of T20 and as we watch the interest and crowds grow, it seems we are not the only ones. I am really looking forward to building on the success of last season and of course, a Birmingham Bears v Surrey Lions final at Edgbaston on 23 August.”

Andy Muggleton, Co-Founder & Commercial Director at Generate, added: “We’re delighted to be working with Octopus Investments and its sponsorship of T20 cricket. It’s a very exciting time for the brand and there is a great team in place committed to delivering successful partnerships.

“We have a real passion for the sport having previously worked with Friends Life and look forward to helping Octopus Investments achieve new heights with their sponsorships.”

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) have extended their contract with Northern Michigan University to maintain an Olympic training site on the NMU campus. 

The training site currently features residential programs for men’s Greco-Roman wrestling and men’s and women’s weightlifting.

“We are pleased to continue playing an important role in the development and education of elite athletes training for the Olympics,” said NMU President David Haynes. “While the training site has changed over the years, the goal to provide high-quality educational opportunities to world-class athletes has not.”

Today, Northern Michigan University is one of 16 U.S. Olympic training sites throughout the nation. NMU’s site currently has 43 Greco-Roman wrestlers and 26 weightlifters who live and train on campus while attending the university.
NMU first became an Olympic training center in 1985 and was then called the United States Olympic Education Center (USOEC). Since its start, the NMU training site has played host to 29 sports, ranging from archery to wrestling that have trained at the center on either a long-term or short-term basis.

“NMU has a long history of supporting the U.S. Olympic movement and we’re happy to have the university continue to play a role in developing American wrestlers and weightlifters for national and international competition,” said Alicia McConnell, USOC Director of Training Sites and Community Partnerships. “Marquette and the university community have been very supportive of the Olympic sports programs and athletes who have trained at Northern over the decades. Additionally, NMU continues to offer an outstanding educational opportunity for young athletes who want to earn a university degree while training at the elite level.”

Aprilia has announced it will return to the MotoGP World Championship grid as a factory entrant in 2016, adiposity | it has been announced by parent company Piaggio.

The news came on Tuesday during the EICMA bike show in Italy.

“In 2016, apoplectic Aprilia will return to MotoGP with the goal of winning and discovering the same success we have enjoyed in World Superbikes,” commented Roberto Colaninno, CEO of Piaggio. “

The Italian marque was last part of the World Championship as a factory team in 2004.

The Scottish Golf Union (SGU) has agreed a partnership with Royal Dornoch Golf Course, the links course on the Dornoch Firth, to boost local golf by offering members of affiliated golf clubs in Scotland savings of 25% off green fees on its Championship course..

The offer, which is exclusive to full members of all clubs affiliated to the SGU, provides golfers with the opportunity to play on one of the world’s best courses, described by Tom Watson, five times Open Champion as “the most fun I’ve ever had on a golf course.” 

Neil Hampton, General Manager of RDGC, said: “We are delighted to work with the SGU through this exclusive offer to encourage Scottish club golfers to make the most use of our superb course.” 

Ross Duncan, Marketing and Sponsorship Manager for the SGU states:  “It is important to support your local golf club, where you play and develop your game week in week out, but it is something special to play one of the world’s best links courses like Royal Dornoch.  We are delighted that Royal Dornoch Golf Club are supporting The Scottish Golf Union club golfers offer, and give our members an opportunity to test themselves.”

The par 70 links championship course is set against a background of spectacular panoramic views of the Dornoch Firth and the Sutherland and Ross-shire hills and provides all the characteristics of the best of links courses, and most of the difficulties.  Steeped in centuries of history, its standards are those expected by the modern golfer.

With the new season of the British Basketball League (BBL) set to begin in September, the BBL has launched their own dedicated platform for fans to enjoy full HD quality live games throughout the 2013/14 season. 

BBL TV will initially bring league pass holders access to 30 live games during the season using cutting edge technology to deliver high quality content direct to the audience’s home PC, laptop and hand held devices. 

The BBL’s Commercial Director David Leyden Dunbar commented that, “BBL TV has been in development for over 9 months now and it’s thrilling to finally be able to share this innovation with our audience and fans.

“We’ll be broadcasting live from across the UK from The Emirates in Glasgow to The Copper Box Arena in London and the power is in the hands of our fans to make the channel a success.” 

Commenting on the launch the League’s 2012/13 Coach of the Year Rob Paternostro said: “This is great news for our league, it gives us all an opportunity to see more basketball which is fantastic for our fans but also beneficial for both players and coaches alike. Weekly live coverage is another great step forward for the BBL, I hope our fans will get behind this exciting new development which is something many of us are looking to forward to.” 

The League Pass tips off with a trip to The Emirates Arena in Glasgow for Surrey Heat’s battle against The Rocks on Sunday 6th of October at 5pm with the entire season’s coverage anchored by Dan Routledge with weekly guest co-commentators.

Circuit designer Hermann Tilke is confident the Russian Grand Prix will go ahead next year at the Sochi International Street Circuit despite the recent problems surrounding the event.

Organisers confirmed the event will take place on October 19 at the end of last month, but since then the Russian Automobile Federation has missed a deadline imposed by the FIA, the sport’s governing body, to make an official application to join the F1 calendar in 2014. Reports suggest a dispute between them and the promoters, JSC Omega is to blame.

Despite that though, Tilke is admant the event will happen: “I’m 100 percent sure that the track will be ready [and the race will be held on October 19, 2014]. Everything in my area of responsibility will be fulfilled,” he said in an interview with championat.com. “The track will be constructed on time. Everything will be okay.”

Asked about the row between the promoters and the Russian Automobile Federation, Tilke added: “I do not know much about this. We are engaged in the construction of the track. I am not familiar with the situation in detail.”

As for talk he had concerns about the build quality in Sochi, Tilke said that is no longer an issue: “It was a long time ago [I had some worries]. There were problems, but now they are solved, [it is] all right.”

Meanwhile, earlier this week, the promoters said the dispute with the Russian Automobile Federation had been resolved, although the latter has yet to make any official statement to collaborate that fact.

“We just couldn’t miss the chance to reach an agreement,” JSC Omega general manager, Oleg Zabara told Sport Express daily. “We are really interested in a good partnership with the Russian Automobile Federation.

“We’re set to sign an official contract with the Russian Automobile Federation this week before sending an application to stage the 2014 race to the F1’s ruling body, the FIA. We’ve already reached the agreement, which we now need to formalise.”