Sponsorship & Marketing

Telecommunications firm Telefonica has agreed a lucrative deal to become the major sponsor of the Spanish entry in sailing's Volvo Ocean Race in 2005.

The value of Octagon has been slashed by hundreds of millions of dollars after parent company the Interpublic Group revealed its latest financial figures. (Octagon Worldwide CEO Rick Dudley pictured).

German soccer governing body the DFB has said it could fulfil its financial commitments for up to two years without earning an extra Euro – such is its financial security.

Sports Media International (SMI) has signed a deal to be the advertising and marketing representative of The Football Network – the 24/7 US channel.

Swedish golfer Fredrik Jacobson is the latest to join the ranks of IMG after agreeing an athlete management deal with the sports marketing giant.

Pay-TV operator Hong Kong Cable has bought up the exclusive TV rights in the region to the 2006 soccer World Cup after reaching a deal with marketing agency Infront Sports & Media.

Former men’s tennis number one Andre Agassi has hit out over the different factions that govern the sport, and said the current situation of battling over the same sponsorship dollars and TV money is ‘absurd’.

Trade exhibition show Sportex is expanding to include an Asian event following the success of this year's market in Paris.

Sports marketing giant IMG is behind a move to introduce a golf tournament in Denmark to the European Tour next year.

NFL team the New York Jets have signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with electronics firm Toshiba.

Heineken has unveiled a new sponsorship deal with the British Olympic Association as part of the beer brand's build up to next year's Summer Games in Athens.

ESPN2’s decision to air same day coverage of the opening round of the THQ World Supercross Grand Prix has been hailed a ‘monumental leap’ forward for sponsors and commercial partners.

The regulation of sponsorship across Europe will be one of the main topics of debate at the ESCA Congress later this month.

NASCAR has signed up its first ever ‘official hotel’ partnership.

MotoGP is to be scaled down – but only in toy form after it was announced Hornby is to launch a range of branded Scalextric products.

One of the bidders for the UK motor racing circuits owned by the Interpublic Group, has gone public – and revealed details of plans to breathe new life into Brands Hatch, the former home of the British F1 Grand Prix.