The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has today announced GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) as its Official Laboratory Services Provider in a Tier Three deal.

GSK will provide facilities and equipment to enable Kings College London to operate a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited satellite laboratory at Games-time.

There will be thousands of samples analysed throughout the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the laboratory will be in operation 24 hours a day throughout the Games. The facility will be based at one of GSK’s research and development sites in the UK offering the capacity for King’s College to independently run the laboratory, working with the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee during London 2012.

London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe commented: "Doping control is a requirement of any Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. We have taken a partnership approach to delivering it for London 2012 and I’m thrilled that GlaxoSmithKline is on board. Its involvement, working with the King’s College experts, will see world class facilities available for an independently run anti-doping operation throughout the Games".

"The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games provide GSK with a huge opportunity to be part of the delivery of an outstanding world event", said Andrew Witty (right), CEO of GlaxoSmithKline. "I'm delighted we've put this alliance with King’s College London together to ensure that excellent science can play a key role in ensuring the Games are conducted to the highest ethical standards and that athletes can lead healthier lives.

"The Olympic and Paralympic ideals of people striving to achieve their best are core to those of GSK, as we share those values of excellence. There is great alignment in these missions and I look forward to our people making a significant contribution to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games".

One of the UK’s leading universities, King’s College London‘s Drug Control Centre has a track record in anti-doping control, analysing samples collected from athletes competing in major sporting events and training.

Working with UK Sport to implement the UK’s anti-doping policy in sport, the centre carried out more than 8,000 tests across seventy sports last year. The Centre, led by Director, Professor David Cowan, is well respected internationally and has a proven record of successfully delivering analysis services for major games. It was the first human sports drug-testing laboratory established outside of an Olympic Games.

"I am delighted that GlaxoSmithKline has chosen to make this important contribution to our ongoing work at King's College London to help deter drug cheats from coming to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games", said Professor Cowan, who is Director of the Centre. "With this significant partner we have the capacity to be able to help protect the health of the athlete and the integrity of the Games".

GSK begins work immediately.

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Michael McLintock, chief executive of M&G, said: "We see our sponsorship of RHS Chelsea as a natural partnership. Chelsea is about achieving the highest standards and it is that approach that has driven M&G to become one of Europe's leading active asset managers".

Show garden highlights to date include the biggest ever garden by the Eden Project, the return of regular RHS best in show winner, Tom Stuart-Smith, with a garden for Laurent-Perrier and a garden for Tourism Malaysia designed by celebrity gardener, James Wong.

M&G will also bring a show garden to Chelsea to celebrate its sponsorship. The final garden selection will be made on 7th December, 2009.

"In the last five years, the sport has progressed from an uncertain financial position with a history of turmoil", he continued, "to a sport with financial stability, renewed long-term worldwide broadcast contracts and new sponsorship agreements.

"Together with IMG we believe the time is now right to build on these underlying strengths to put in place a World Snooker Tour. We hope the players and promoters will recognise the opportunities of being part of this ambitious plan and help in bringing it to fruition".

Graham Fry, Managing Director, IMG Sports Media Production, put the announcment in context: "I have long believed in the potential of snooker and IMG has developed a formula which should lead to major growth in the sport. This new approach will significantly increase the number of sanctioned ranking tournaments which in turn will improve both the earnings for players and promoters. This will also help in the development of new talent".

Adam Kelly, Marketing Director, IMG Sport Media, who is leading the project from a commercial perspective, added: "The strategy is founded on two major elements, profitable rights distribution and premier quality production. I believe we have something here that can unite the snooker community. With the support of the players and the World Snooker Board this approach can lead to a brighter and stronger future for the sport".

PUMA’s Volvo Ocean Race campaign was the most innovative marketing campaign ever taken on by the company. With its eye-catching boat, il mostro, PUMA was able to boast the greatest media exposure of all the individual boats. PUMA Ocean Racing received the most television coverage and the second most print coverage.

"It's a real honour to be nominated for this award", said Antonio Bertone, Chief Marketing Officer. "We entered into the sailing category with the overall goal of making sailing inclusive and inviting new people into the sport.

"Our PUMA Ocean Racing team brought sailing to places in the world that have never seen sailing as an extreme, competitive sport. Our entry into the Volvo Ocean Race helped us show the world we’re serious about sailing and are committed to this new category".

Other award winners were Wrigley’s Extra: Extra 90+ (Business to Consumer Award); DHL Express Sweden – DHL Football Delivered (Business to Business); Heineken Internal Table Football Competition (HitFC) (Business to Employee); and Nicotinell - Helping Football Fans Kick the Habit (Business to Community).

The announcement came as the industry revealed that that Heads of Terms for the project have been signed by the BBC, RadioCentre, Global Radio and Guardian Media Group.

The player is launched through radio stations' websites. It has a standard look and functionality, irrespective of which station is being listening to.

Stations which choose to join the Radioplayer will have the freedom to accompany their live streams with additional material of their choice – on-demand audio, click-to-buy music services, webcams, track listings, adverts or the weather, for example.

In the first instance, the service will be made available to all Ofcom-licensed networks. It will initially be available through desktop computers, with later versions intended for smartphones and other internet-connected devices like IPTVs. All BBC radio services will be included in the player, subject to the Corporation's approvals process.

The UK Radioplayer follows discussions in the Radio Council about how the industry might deliver cross-sector digital projects. The player will be launched subject to consultation with the BBC Trust and RadioCentre board.

Commenting on Xchanging’s new sponsorship commitment, Robert Gillespie, Chairman of The Boat Race Company Limited (BRCL), organisers of the Race, said: "We are delighted that Xchanging wishes to identify so closely with the event and invest in its future."

Xchanging first became involved with the Race in 2005 and renewed its sponsorship for a further five years in 2008. Since then, the number of countries across the world screening live or recorded highlights of the Race has risen by more than fifty to total 153 in 2009, including China, Russia and Brazil.

In just ten years, Xchanging has become a global business processing company with blue-chip customers in forty-two countries. It now employs over 8,400 people in nine countries. Xchanging recently opened a new US headquarters in Chicago.

The 2010 Xchanging Boat Race will be staged at 4.30pm on Saturday, 3rd April. It will be screened live on BBC 1 in a two-hour programme.

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Picture: LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19th: Oxford President Sjoerd Hamburger (L) of The Netherlands and Cambridge President Deaglan McEachern of the USA pose on the balcony of the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel over looking Big Ben on November 19th, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

But if the celeb.'s image changes, or is damaged, the effect isn't neutral. Some celebs. slowly fade away and thereby lose their currency and their relevance. But others find themselves suddenly caught up in adverse publicity. The sponsor is seen to be associated with, supportive of and, to an extent, synonymous with the failings of their protégé.

This particular incident looks set to run and run - perhaps to become a byword for cheating. It is such a huge talking point, the subject of such intense media focus, that there's little chance of Henry's brand image making a recovery.

So Henry's current and potential sponsors will very soon have to ask themselves whether they really wish to be tarred with the same brush ...

He continued: "We see our partnership as a major opportunity, over the next three years and beyond, to focus attention on our range of the most fuel efficient premium cars – and also to shine a light on the future of individual mobility. This partnership will be an inspiration for our customers, employees, dealers and suppliers".

LOCOG set challenging targets with respect to CO2 and European emission standards for the car fleet. BMW will provide a fleet of cars which not only meet the Euro 6 emissions standard but also beat the maximum average of 120g CO2/km established by LOCOG. BMW leads the automotive industry in emission-lowering technology through its Efficient Dynamics programme.

The company will also showcase electric vehicles as part of its activation in 2012.

LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe commented: "Operationally, an automotive deal is vital for any organising committee and so I’m thrilled BMW is on board. They share our vision to stage a sustainable Games in 2012 and will be a valued partner. We welcome BMW on board and look forward to working with them over the next three years".

During the Games, BMW bicycles will be available for use by athletes in the Athletes Village and by London 2012 staff. BMW motorcycles will also be used in certain Olympic and Paralympic events.

A proportion of the fleet will be wheelchair-accessible and BMW will convert a number of vehicles for use by disabled drivers and passengers.

BMW has invested over £1bn in the UK since 2000 and employs over 8,000 people in manufacturing, distribution and financial services in Britain. The company has created over 50,000 further jobs through support services, suppliers and dealer distribution networks. BMW will also activate the deals across the iconic Mini brand between now and 2012.

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It seems unlikely that such a proposal would be greeted with much enthusiasm by the cricketing establishment (writes Richard Fox), but least of all by the highly conservative MCC members, who can be expected to mount furious resistance to any move to re-christen "the home of cricket".

The funding of cricket, acknowledged as one of the UK's national games, is already under intense scrutiny at the moment, with culture secretary Ben Bradshaw considering changing the status of Ashes Test matches to add them to the so-called "crown jewels" list of sporting events.

Such a move would enforce exclusive live broadcast of Ashes matches on free-to-air television, implying a severe loss of income from broadcasting contracts for the sport.

Simon Halliday of Raisin Social, Namaqua’s UK importer said: "England’s tour of South Africa should make for some fantastic viewing and this is a great opportunity to associate our brand with such an exciting fixture on this winter's sporting schedule".

David Shore of Sky Media underlined the significance of the deal for the broadcaster: "It’s great to re-sign Namaqua as broadcast sponsor. It confirms that Sky Sports' cricket coverage delivers excellent quality audiences and superb coverage that brands wish to be associated with".

Already facing a personnel mini-crisis with the absence of Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad for the first T20 match, the England team confront a stern challenge this winter against Graeme Smith’s South Africa, currently rated by the ICC as the world’s top team. They contest two Twenty20 internationals, five One-Day Internationals and four Test matches.

Sky Sports' live coverage will be the first cricket from South Africa in high definition. David Gower will present, with commentary from the likes of Sir Ian Botham, Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain and David Lloyd.

Microsoft describes Windows Theme Experience as "a robust sponsorship opportunity that offers engagement beyond the desktop with a combination of elements including Internet Explorer 8 add-ons, Windows 7 and Windows Vista web-connected gadgets, Windows 7 backgrounds and borders and operating system audio elements".

In addition, brands will be able to maximise their presence on Microsoft properties worldwide, including MSN and Windows Live, and may be able to be included in Windows Galleries and the new desktop gadgets and add-ons that will ultimately drive consumers to a sponsor’s dedicated download page. These new themes are intended for a brand’s most passionate fans, says Microsoft, and allow for a deeper engagement by letting consumers embed their favourite brand into their PC experience.

The Windows Personalization Gallery offers a desktop branding experience for users throughout the operation of their Windows 7-based PC, including backgrounds, slide shows, borders and application audio elements.

Global advertisers already on board include Ducati, Infiniti, Porsche and Twentieth Century Fox. In addition to these global brands’ themes, there are seven Microsoft themes: two for Xbox "Gears of War"; three for Zune: Characters, Elements and Zodiac; and Bing’s Best and Lugares Coloridos.

Julie Clark, Head of Sport, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said: "We are tremendously passionate about our partnership with England 2018, as well as the UK sports market, and look forward to providing economic impact assessment, guidance on tax and guarantees, and advice on the budget to the bid team. PwC has a strong regional network of offices which is very well aligned with the list of applicant host cities and the sponsorship therefore benefits the firm across the UK."

Preliminary economic impact figures demonstrate staging the tournament could equate to £3.2bn for the country.

Ian Powell, Chairman, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, added: "We are delighted to have been appointed as the first top tier sponsor for the England 2018 World Cup bid, and I am very excited to champion this with a call to UK businesses to back the bid. We also recognise that football has the power to break down barriers and hope that our partnership with England 2018 will help us deliver our own community programmes even more widely across the UK."

England 2018 Chairman, Lord Triesman, commented on the partnership: "PwC will provide us with excellent support throughout the campaign. We are delighted a firm of such global business pedigree has chosen to support us in this way and feel their services and expertise will be valuable assets to the England 2018 World Cup Bid.

The award-winning Stylus Photo R2880 is able to deliver quality at high speed, thanks to its Epson Micro Piezo print head, which is coated with ink repelling Teflon to ensure unparalleled accuracy in dot placement. The UltraChrome K3 ink with Vivid Magenta enables superb grey balance and precise colour without any colour cast, says the company. It also maintains the superior features of the UltraChrome K3 ink such as colour accuracy of neutral and dark colours, short-term colour stability and smooth tonal gradation from shadow to light.

In addition to individual works from Paul Redman and David Holmes, the exhibition will include examples of their innovative Photo-Peinture collaboration. These works are a combination of Redman’s photography enhanced with acrylic, oil and water colour paints directly on to the print by Holmes.

Smart-Arts runs from Thursday, 10th December until Tuesday, 22nd December, 2009 at La Galleria, Pall Mall, London SW1.

The RFU, WRU and LV=, as well as Premier Rugby Limited (PRL) and Regional Rugby Wales, which oversee the teams playing in the competition, have all jointly committed to extensively promote the LV= Cup using existing channels and media.

David Radford, LV=Group Marketing Director, commented: "We are delighted to be extending our sponsorship interests in rugby with The LV= Cup. As an expanding business we see The LV= Cup providing a good fit with our target audiences and we’re pleased to put our support behind this popular competition".
 

¹ LV= has been the title sponsor of the LV= County Championship, the premier domestic cricket championship, since 2002.