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Boots enters sponsorship ahead of London 2012

UK pharmacy chain Boots will make its first foray into sport sponsorship in the build-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, according to Marketing magazine.

The retailer is expected to sign up as the main sponsor of Gold Challenge, a charity initiative set up by Sport England, the non-departmental public body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Sport England, which will merge with sports agency UK Sport as part of government cost-cutting measures after the Games, said it hopes to raise £20 million for charity through the scheme by the end of 2012.

According to Marketing, Boots is expected to promote Gold Challenge through a series of on-pack and in-store marketing initiatives.

Earlier this month retail giant Tesco announced it is to sponsor GB Canoeing in the run-up to 2012 and will sell a range of canoes and kayaks to promote the sport.