Sponsor Spotlight: FINA, ITTF Sponsors, IOC Broadcast Rights; Samsung Ambassadors

FINA Names New Sponsor

NVC Lighting agreed to a sponsorship agreement with FINA Diving World Series.

The agreement, which runs from 2014 through 2017, will make the Chinese lighting company the title Sponsor for the event. NVC Lighting was the official lighting supplier for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.

NVC and FINA signed the agreement during the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona.

“Sportsmen and women consistently exhibit qualities of perseverance, integrity and a passion for continuous improvement,” said Changjiang Wu, president of NVC.

“These are values that coincide closely with the values of NVC.”

ITTF Extends Sponsorship

The International Table Tennis Federation announced the extension of ITTF World Tour Title Sponsorship with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd.

The agreement was extended for three years and will run through 2015.

GAC Group first sponsored the ITTF World Tour in 2011.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for GAC Group to showcase our company’s brand and culture on the world stage,” said Mr Zeng Qinghong, General Manager of GAC Group.

“Table tennis is a very competitive and intellectual sport, with a strong foundation amongst the public. The World Tour is a top ITTF Event that not only provides a stage for athletes to prove themselves, but is also a platform that promotes international friendship and understanding.”

IOC Awards South Asian Broadcast Rights

The IOC awarded broadcast rights to STAR India the 2014-2016 Olympics. The deal brings the Olympics to seven countries in South Asia; Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

This is the first time the IOC did not negotiate on a Pan-Asian basis according to Richard Carrion, lead negotiator for the IOC.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with STAR India for the upcoming editions of the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge.

“We are confident they will do a great job providing the best possible broadcast coverage of the Games, on a variety of platforms, to the largest possible audience in the seven different countries.”

Samsung Names Ambassadors

Samsungnamed its GALAXY Team Russia for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

The team consists of ten Russian Athletes, and is headed by NHL star Evgeni Malkin and Tennis star Maria Sharapova.

The Samsung GALAXY Team will provide brand activation for the Sochi Olympics, as well as “direct contact” between the athletes and supporters around the globe.

“We will do everything we can to make the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games the most innovative and accessible for a wide audience, bringing people together in the world’s greatest sporting event,” said Sung-ho Jun, President of Samsung Electronics CIS headquarters.

“We will encourage people to share all the valuable moments of the Olympic Games to ensure that no win, no record and no sporting achievement goes unnoticed. The respected athletes involved in the Samsung GALAXY Team project will help us bring people closer to the Olympic Games than ever before.”

New FEI Executive

FEI hired Lisa Lazarus to serve as FEI’s Chief of Business Development & Strategy.

Previously she held the title of General Counsel at FEI.

“I am delighted to have been offered this challenging role at such an exciting time for the FEI,” said Liza Lazarus.

“I am convinced that there are many avenues to be explored on the commercial front and I am looking forward to working with the team at FEI Headquarters to maximise those opportunities for the benefit of the sport as a whole.”

FILA Announces Retro-Shoe

FILA will re-issue the Grant Hill ’96 “Olympic” sneakers.

The re-issue is part of a string of re-issues by the sportswear company. A list of retailers carrying the shoes can be found here.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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