Athletics New Zealand and ASICS announce sponsorship agreement

Athletics New Zealand and ASICS have announced an agreement that will see ASICS become the official apparel and footwear sponsor for Athletics New Zealand.

The partnership will mean that all Athletics New Zealand teams, through to and including the 2012 Olympics will be outfitted in ASICS clothing.

In announcing the deal at the Athletics New Zealand Annual General Meeting and Forum on Saturday, ANZ Sport Manager, Brett Addison, said the partnership would launch an exciting period for the sport.

"We are pleased to have a partner like ASICS who can assist us to outfit our national teams in apparel created using the latest international technology to help them perform to very high levels", he said. "Delhi through to London is an important phase for our top athletes and having this deal in place is exciting for us".

The first team outfitted under the new partnership will be heading to Singapore in August for the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games. The New Zealand Athletics team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi will also be wearing the latest ASICS apparel.

Jenny Christian, ASICS Marketing Manager for Brittain Wynyard, said: "We are proud to be supporting our nation's elite athletes and are confident our technical performance apparel and footwear will provide them with the competitive edge over their competitors and help them achieve their goals at an international level. We see the new partnership between Athletics New Zealand and ASICS as a natural fit".

Rolex is a brand that has become synonymous with yachting and major sporting events worldwide. "As one of my final duties as Commodore of this great club I am pleased to announce that Rolex will continue to sponsor one of the greatest ocean races in the world – the Rolex Sydney Hobart, for a further five years", said Commodore Allen.

"Their commitment to the sport and to the Rolex Sydney Hobart greatly assists the international reputation of the race. From the time of Rolex's involvement we have seen an increasing level of international interest combined with a strong Australian fleet from the smallest yachts at just over thirty feet to the larger maxis at 100 feet".

Since the tough sixtieth anniversary race in 2004 when 116 starters lined up for Australia's ultimate blue water event the fleet size has steadily climbed with 100 yachts taking to the start line on Boxing Day last year, including a record eight maxis.

Commodore Allen continued: "The CYCA has had a close collaboration with Rolex since it first entered into the sponsorship of the blue water classic. Their association with us has greatly enhanced the Rolex Sydney Hobart and lead up Rolex Trophy Series for the competitors and the interested followers of these events.

"The CYCA is delighted to make this announcement and thanks Rolex for its ongoing involvement and support", Commodore Allen concluded.

To "do a Hobart" is every sailor's dream and as skipper Andrew Saies said when he accepted the Tattersall's Cup after surviving a protest last year to claim overall victory and his Rolex Yacht-Master timepiece: "I've always dreamed about the opportunity to run my own campaign in a Hobart".

"The enormity and significance of the win ... you go into the history books as the overall winner of the Rolex Sydney Hobart – that's pretty illustrious company, with the people and boats who have won it over the years. It’s really exciting to know that our name is on the trophy forever", concluded Saies. The 628 nautical mile race is often described as one of the most gruelling ocean races in the world and is a veritable test of seamanship.

Immediately following the 65th edition of the race, Rolex articulated an enthusiastic ongoing commitment to the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race which has now been formalised with an extension of the current sponsorship arrangement.

Photo captions and credit:
Start of the 65th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Credit ROLEX/Daniel Forster.jpg
Matteo Mazzanti, Rolex SA presenting Andrew Saies, Two True with a Rolex Yacht-Master timepiece and CYCA Commodore Matt Allen presenting the Tattersall's Cup. Credit ROLEX/Kurt Arrigo.jpg

"Toshiba is delighted to be continuing our fruitful relationship with this major global sporting event watched by a global audience of billions and we are very much looking forward to building on the success of our sponsorship of Rugby World Cup 2007", said Mark Whittard, Managing Director, Toshiba (Australia) Pty Ltd.

Toshiba will mark the sponsorship with a Rugby-themed advertising campaign that will include advertising signage in tournament stadiums, incorporating tournament logos in its product and corporate advertisements, and banner ads on the official Rugby World Cup 2011 website.

"Rugby World Cup Limited is delighted to announce that Toshiba has joined the impressive list of sponsors for Rugby World Cup 2011. The reappointment of a world leader in the electronics field further underlines the enormous attraction and prestige of the Tournament in the global sporting calendar," said International Rugby Board Chairman, Bernard Lapasset.

"We look forward to working with Toshiba to further the promotion of the Game as the global rugby community looks ahead to Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand and a Tournament that looks set to write another memorable chapter in the Rugby World Cup success story".

Since its inaugural Tournament in 1987, the quadrennial Rugby World Cup has grown to become one of the biggest events in the global sporting calendar. France 2007 attracted more than two million spectators and was viewed by a cumulative global TV audience of 4.3 billion viewers, concentrated in Europe, Oceania and Asia. Rugby World Cup 2011, the seventh Tournament, is expected to deliver an "irresistible mix" of world class rugby, impressive venues and a unique New Zealand flavour.

Toshiba will continue to promote proactive marketing activities worldwide in parallel with its overseas business promotion.

Ms Fagg said: "We feel privileged to have been a part of world-class competition from its very beginning, and to have witnessed the tremendous growth netball has continued to experience across both countries".

ANZ Championship General Manager Anthony Everard said: "We are proud of all that has been achieved in the first three years of the ANZ Championship.

"ANZ has been a wonderful partner and integral to the growth and success of the league so far. As we prepare for our third Grand Final this weekend, we are delighted to have ANZ's support for the next phase of the competition".

More than 630,000 people have attended ANZ Championship matches over the past three years and the competition has drawn a television audience of more than 26 million.