British sports stars given helping hand via sponsorship from Virgin Trains

A newly named Virgin Train was launched recently - the first in a programme rolling out across the country.

The 'Alison Waters' left London Euston with her namesake on board and was welcomed by Virgin Trains’ and Alstom staff on arrival into Manchester shortly after 11.00.

Alison Waters is the British National Squash Champion 2010 and ranked number five in the world. The Virgin Trains sponsorship initiative, which is supported by Alstom who built and maintain Virgin's Pendolino train fleet, "Supporting British athletes", enables a number of sportsmen and women to attend training camps, key competitions and championships up and down the country.

With the numerous events happening in the run up to the 2012 Games and Glasgow 2014, the ability to train and take part in competitive events is an important part of these athletes' careers. Alison, whose training heartland is the Manchester National Squash Centre, is the first of the 2014 Games' hopefuls to reap the benefits of this sponsorship and will this year be taking part in the British Grand Prix, the World Open Squash 2011 and the Women's World Team Championship in 2012.

Alison travels regularly between her home in Southgate, London and Manchester and said: "I am so excited to be launching a train named after me! This normally happens to royalty! On a more serious note the Virgin Trains sponsorship allows me to travel freely to my training ground – a real help in these tough times and something that I hope will give my career chances a real boost".

Natasha Grice, 2012 Games Co-ordinator at Virgin Trains, said: "We think it’s fantastic that Alison has agreed to have one of our trains named after her. We really hope that it will spread the message of her career quest across our network but also that it will raise awareness of the great lengths our top athletes have to go through in order to realise their sporting dreams".

Roy Sullivan, Alstom Transport UK's Mainline Operations Director said: "Alstom is delighted to support this initiative with Virgin Trains. We identify with the determination and commitment needed by the athletes to deliver top performance and wish Alison well for the exciting challenges ahead".

This substantial new investment in British racing follows several early commercial successes for British Champions Series, including the BBC purchasing the rights to broadcast live on BBC1 all five championship races from British Champions Day, while BBC Worldwide secured the right to sell the British Champions Day broadcast internationally. Domestic broadcast rights for the series are split between Channel 4 (nineteen races) and the BBC (sixteen races).

Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, Chief Executive of QIPCO Holding, said: "We are delighted to embark on this partnership. We want to raise the international profile of QIPCO and the British Champions Series provides the perfect platform for the company to reach a wider audience.

"Comprising the very best of British Flat racing and including many of the world's most famous races, all of which are renowned for their prestige and quality, the British Champions Series is the ideal vehicle for QIPCO in our drive to develop new investment and business opportunities in the UK and around the world. Through Qatar Bloodstock, which owns the stallion, Makfi, we already have an interest in the British racing and breeding industry. It is a business that we also have a passion for and we are proud to be the title partner of the British Champions Series".

Karl Oliver, Chief Executive of British Champions Series, said: "We're delighted to welcome QIPCO to partner British Flat racing on this journey towards a strong future for our sport. Qatar is demonstrating its ambition on the world stage and that makes QIPCO an excellent partner for British Champions Series.

"I'm very pleased that the series could attract new and substantial investment into British racing so quickly. Now we look forward to concentrating on the horses, jockeys and fans while hosting a truly fantastic first QIPCO British Champions Series, uniting and celebrating the very best aspects of our sport".

The QIPCO British Champions Series launches at Newmarket's Rowley Mile course on Saturday, 30th April, 2011 with the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, classified as the best three-year-old race in the world in 2010, and culminates with the richest event in this country's horseracing history, QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday, 15th October, 2011. In all the series contains seven of the world's top twelve races based on the official international classifications.

The series, which is worth circa £13m in prize money, will feature thirty-five Flat races split into five championship categories: Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies & Mares, staged at ten of the UK's leading racecourses: Ascot, Doncaster, Epsom Downs, Goodwood, Haydock Park, Newbury, Newmarket's July Course, Newmarket's Rowley Mile, Sandown Park and York.

2010 marked the 75-year anniversary of G4S in the UK, where G4S now employs 50,000 people. The group has extensive experience in the security of sporting and other major events and has been responsible for the security at the Olympic Park site in east London since 2008. The deal with LOCOG will cover all Olympic and Paralympic venues across the UK.

LOCOG CEO Paul Deighton (left) said: "This deal represents where we are with our plans for the Games – we're now looking at operational delivery. G4S will help us ensure that the security provisions in place are robust and of the highest professionalism and we welcome them to the London 2012 family. Our commercial programme has been a great success and we’re now approaching our targets which will contribute to the staging of spectacular Games in 2012".

David Taylor-Smith, Regional CEO of G4S UK and Africa, commented: "We are absolutely delighted to have been selected as the Official Security Services Provider for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. We have worked extremely hard with LOCOG, the Police, central government and the host venues and boroughs to develop a security proposal which will provide excellent security for the Games, whilst ensuring that spectators, competitors and providers of services to the Games can enjoy the spectacle of one of the greatest sporting events in the world".

In her seven years with the prestigious sportscar team, she has been responsible for acquiring and managing a wide range of sponsors and partners, including several well-known blue chip companies.

Sadie Wigglesworth, a graduate of St. Andrews University, started her career at the Vintage Sports Car Club before being headhunted to a senior account management role within the Subaru World Rally Team at Prodrive.

Subsequently, she went on to set up the marketing department within the newly-formed Aston Martin Racing team in 2005, building up experience in marketing activation rights and collateral, along with a range of partner events around the world, including in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.

She commented: "I am delighted to join the Force India Formula One Team, which has steadily moved up the ranks of the sport to become a strong midfield challenger with fierce ambition and now offers an outstanding commercial opportunity for global companies wishing to enter the Indian market place. This October the inaugural Indian Grand Prix will take place at the Jaypee International Race Circuit near Delhi, offering even greater scope for companies not currently known in India to penetrate the market. With an Indian business development service for prospective sponsors already in operation, we are poised to bring a totally fresh dimension to sporting partnerships".

Team principal Dr. Vijay Mallya added: "I’m delighted that Sadie has joined us to head up our commercial team as we expand into our most exciting year yet. With a strong technical package and the added incentive of the Indian Grand Prix, we believe that we are expanding our potential as a strong sponsorship prospect.

"Formula One offers a proven global marketing platform, with viewing figures, media coverage and brand visibility only rivalled by the Olympics and the World Cup. Within that global base, Force India also offers a unique opportunity to venture into one of the most dynamic and fast-growing economies in the world. Sadie and her team will build on these solid principles to take Force India to the next stage of our commercial development".

The winners will be unveiled at a gala ceremony to be held at London's Regents Park Zoo on Thursday, 19th May, 2011. The awards will be presented to the winners by Catalina McGregor, who has recently been described by Computer Weekly "as one of the most significant drivers of Green ICT in the western world".

Mrs McGregor is currently The United Nations Agency ITUT JCA Green ICT Liaison Officer to the OECD and the EC/EU, developing international cooperation, best practice and standards for smart cities.

She works with a number of international climate change and environmental groups including Global Action Plan European Leaders in IT (ELIT), The US EPEAT Green Electronics Council and the UK WEEE Directive sub-group for the re-use and resale of electronic goods, among other interests.

Catalina McGregor is best known in the UK as the founder of Her Majesty's Government Chief Information Officers (CIO) and Chief Technology Officers (CTO) Council Green ICT Delivery Unit.

In another coup for the Awards' organisers, it has been announced that Rainforest Concern will be the official charity partner for the event.

The strong aspirations that aap³ have to become a market leader in their field perfectly match the direction that Southampton FC is now taking, not only in terms of its ambition to grow as a club with the right results on the field, but also its positive influence in the local community it serves.

Over the last eighteen months aap³ has been a keen supporter of the Saints Foundation, investing its charitable funds, having their employees volunteer with several of the Foundation programmes and using intellectual software development resources to develop the Foundation's website.

The partnership will start from the beginning of the 2011-12 season and run until June 2014.

On announcing the new contract, Nick Moore, ECB head of sales, said: "We're delighted to continue our relationship with such a high profile and well respected brand as Veuve Clicquot. We feel there is an excellent fit with English cricket and look forward to working with them over the next three years.

"On the back of a winning Ashes Series, the profile of cricket has continued to rise. The England team is now third in the ICC Test Rankings and, with the arrival of Sri Lanka and India this summer, will have the chance to climb further up the league table as they bid to become the number one Test team in the world".

Sally Warmington, Veuve Clicquot marketing director, added: "Veuve Clicquot, champagne of the season, is thrilled to remain the official champagne of the ECB. Cricket is a key highlight of the season and we wish the team and the ECB continued success".

O2 has worked closely with artists and labels to, for the first time, actively encourage music fans to record live gigs on their phones and upload them to the channel. With its fan cam feature, O2 will then offer to edit these clips, placing the high quality audio track over the footage, giving fans a better quality experience when reliving their favourite gigs.

Other features of O2 Academy TV will include

  •   Exclusive backstage chat and interviews with artists performing at O2 Academy venues. Recent interviews have included Jason Derulo, Thin Lizzy, KT Tunstall, Europe and Example, who provided access to the making of his latest music video, Wretch 32

  •   Shoutout booths - branded video booths at the venues which fans can use to record messages to artists and feedback on the gigs

  •   Live streams – selected O2 Academy gigs will be broadcast live through the channel

  •   Bespoke content from gigs and tours throughout O2 Academy venues, such as video diaries and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage.

O2 Academy TV is the result of close consultation with the music industry and has been designed, says the company, with both artists and music fans in mind.

Jasmine Skee, O2's Head of Music Sponsorship, said: "O2 Academy TV celebrates the raw aspect of live music in our venues, giving fans a unique opportunity to get closer to the artists they love, and giving artists a creative platform to promote their shows.

"It's been a year in the making, working closely with YouTube, labels, promoters, managers and artists themselves, and we’re confident that the final product will help extend the overall gig experience and take our partnership with live music to the next level.

"From the big names playing Brixton to newer talent in our smaller venues, we hope to work with all levels of artists and give something really different, engaging and interactive back to music fans".

Bruce Daisley, Director of YouTube and Display, said: "We love this fresh new use of a YouTube brand channel - O2 are going to be able to build sustained engagement long after an event. It's a real breakthrough in how brands can use video in new and exciting ways".

Ted May, manager of The Streets, said: "O2 Academy TV is a vital addition to a band's promotional campaign as a direct resource for connecting to fans. By enabling you to reach a demographic of concert goers outside of your own fan base, it can be a very effective form of promotion. Social media is all about engaging with your fans and what better way to do this than via their local venues own network".

O2 Academy TV was developed by O2 with support from Pd3 and AIS. It will be promoted through all O2 and Academy Music Group (AMG) communications with a media campaign using search and video display advertising.

The Oris logo will maintain its position on the car's front wing endplates as well as on team uniform, while it will also now feature on the FW33's nose and have greater prominence on driver overalls, gloves and helmets. All new for 2011 will see the lollipop operator's firesuit branded with the Oris logo and their red rotor displayed on the lollipop itself.

On the upgraded agreement, Oris' Executive Chairman, Ulrich W. Herzog, commented: "The prestigious world of Formula One has proven to be the perfect platform to promote Oris. As a purely mechanical watch brand, we at Oris can fully identify ourselves with this competitive racing environment and the commitment to quality and success which drives the AT&T Williams team. They work hard to achieve results and this practical ethos reflects our own mission statement: real watches for real people".

Sir Frank Williams, Team Principal of AT&T Williams added: "It always gives me great pleasure when one of our existing partners renews their engagement with the team, and even more so when they decide to upgrade. It means we're delivering on their commitment and providing a return on their investment. Oris is one of our longest-standing partners and we are thrilled that they have extended their relationship with the team for a second time. We very much look forward to continuing our relationship with them in the season ahead and returning their support with success on the track".

Shaun Murphy topped the list and will be joined in Dublin by fellow former World Champion Mark Williams, as well as top stars including Mark Selby, Stephen Maguire and Marco Fu.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "It's a great pleasure to bring PartyCasino.com on board for this exciting new event. PartyCasino.com also sponsor Premier League Snooker, so they have a close association with the sport and they are clearly delighted with the exposure they receive through snooker.

"It's fantastic to be going to Ireland for a world-ranking event for the first time in six years.

"The fans there have been starved of top draw snooker for too long and I hope they will be out in force to see the stars in action.

"I know all of the players competing can't wait to get over there, show what they can do and experience the atmosphere. The PTC series has given them the chance to play in events every week so they are all match sharp. Alongside PartyCasino.com we're looking forward to an outstanding five days of snooker".

The event will be broadcast on Eurosport, Beijing TV, Shanghai TV, Guangdong TV and Now TV in Hong Kong.

Last year 21,000 athletes competed in mass-participation races in front of 700,000 spectators and global television audiences in 149 countries. The Series is expected to attract higher numbers in 2011, helping sponsors and partners extend their reach to wider audiences.

Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member, said: "With its product quality, Oakley has been favoured by many triathletes from elite to amateur competitors. The new partnership will earn big cheers from existing fans and attract new audiences through the exciting sport of triathlon".

David Hyam, Oakley's Sports Marketing Manager of Europe, Middle East and Asia, said: "Partnering up as Official Global Eyewear Sponsor of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series underlines our deliberate step in strengthening our position as being the most recognised and respected premium optical brand in performance eyewear".

Paul Coleman, Managing Director of ITU World Championship Series, said: "Oakley is a global high profile brand that ITU is excited to develop successful partnerships with. Attracting Oakley as global partners of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championships Series is another clear statement that we are successfully establishing the series as a major sports platform".

Entering its third year, the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series is the premier triathlon series in the world and the most competitive. Athletes compete in seven Series events, vying for the title of ITU Triathlon World Champion. In 2011, the Series will be staged in seven world-class sites. Starting off in Sydney in April, it will touch down in Yokohama, Madrid, Kitzbühel, Hamburg and London, finishing in Beijing for the Grand Final in September.

The deal is jointly brokered by ITU and Upsolut Event GmbH, ITU's Organisation and Marketing Partner. Existing partners and sponsors of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series are Dextro Energy, Suunto, Skins, Specialized, Rock-It Cargo and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

Lathams' director Jon Phipps said: "As one of the few regional architectural practices with a strong landscape and urban design focus, Lathams has a natural interest and involvement in the design and delivery of quality public spaces in our towns and cities.

"Format11 promises to be a unique insight into those spaces and the way people interact and react within them, so we are delighted to be involved as a sponsor. It is particularly pleasing to welcome such an outstanding roll call of international artists to our own city of Derby".

The Festival will show curated exhibitions and new commissions by leading international artists within the practice of street photography. In a unique commission for FORMAT11, esteemed Magnum Photographer Bruce Gilden turned his lens on the people of Derby, creating a fascinating portrait of the city's people in Head On 2010, which will be shown at Derby Museum & Art Gallery.

Outside in Derby Marketplace, Magnum Photos and FORMAT in association with Photography Archive, Birmingham Library and Archive Services, will present Take to the Streets – a major outdoor survey show of 140 large-scale street photos by seven leading Magnum photographers working around the world: Constantine Manos, Richard Kalvar, Raymond Depardon, Chris Steele-Perkins, Bruno Barbey, Trent Parke and Alex Webb.

QUAD Gallery will present Right Here, Right Now, an extensive survey of contemporary street photography showcasing leading practitioners alongside new artists from around the world. The Festival will also present the work of some of the most talented and active photography collectives, celebrating and promoting this emerging culture. Street photography collective InPublic will showcase a dynamic collection of sixty works by their top photographers at Derby Museum & Art Gallery, alongside a film by InPublic founder Nick Turpin investigating the divergent approaches to street photography employed by their various members. Collectives Encounter will feature the work of six leading international collectives, including Rawiya, an all female photo collective from the Middle East.

The premier exhibition strand also includes Mob FORMAT - an international Mass submission online project in association with Flickr. Submissions will be shown on mobile screens around Derby, while a Hype-style gallery in a central pop-up location will print and display the best submissions daily in a constantly-evolving exhibition.

The exhibition programme will be accompanied by an extensive series of events, which includes the Festival conference Right Here Right Now – featuring John Maloof, Bruce Gilden and Sophie Howarth; portfolio reviews with reviewers from around the world; and workshops by leading international artists and practitioners, including street-photo workshops with Magnum members.

In addition, the Festival will feature talks including Joel Meyerowitz speaking about his extensive career in street photography and Bystander - The Next Chapter, as well as a photo-blogging panel discussion.

FORMAT is curated by Louise Clements and organised by QUAD in partnership with Derby City Council, Derby University, Derby Museums and supported by Arts Council of England, Magnum, Troika Editions, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Blurb, Foto8, Shoot Experience, New Art Exchange, Aicon, In-Public, Birmingham Photo Archive, Photo-Festivals, British Journal of Photography and John E. Wright.

Welcoming the new sponsorship agreement, ECI International managing director Paul Farrant, said: "We value the support and involvement of the NTDA and look forward to working with NTDA to deliver a show that is relevant and valuable to all sectors of the industry in 2012".

Last year Brityrex played host to a successful Health & Safety seminar organised by the NTDA and coincided with the association's sell-out annual dinner, which attracted more than 400 guests.

The exhibition was also successful in broadening its exhibitor base to include many leading manufacturers and suppliers of workshop equipment and services. For 2012, Farrant is keen to maintain that level of support while increasing the number of core exhibitors, including tyre wholesalers and manufacturers.

"We brought in around twenty per cent more exhibitors last year, which was really encouraging given the difficult trading environment", he said. "What we want to do for 2012 is to build on that support, particularly by convincing more tyre wholesalers and manufacturers to exhibit. They are the key to taking the show to the next level and creating an event that truly represents the full range of businesses that make up the UK industry".