Events

Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, became a sponsor of one of the world’s biggest sporting events in an agreement making it Official Airline of Rugby World Cup 2007 in France.

Some of Britain's biggest companies will team up with the country’s Olympic sports federations to improve the way they are run in a scheme to be launched today.

Steve Martin, head of M&C Saatchi Sponsorship and Julian Hough, Group development officer of fast-rising marketing services group Engine, are among the latest industry leaders to join the speaker line-up for the SportBusiness International Sports Media Summit in London on March 14.

The 2006 Torino Winter Olympic Games posted a small deficit, thought to be one of the first Olympic deficits in decades.

The Vancouver Organising Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) appointed Birks & Mayors Inc. Official Supplier of Jewellery for the Games.

Sir Craig Reedie OBE is to open the 2007 UK Trade and Investment Global Sport conference www.gsc2007.com. He is set to discus the IOC’s work in encouraging effective partnerships as a core element of a successful games bid.

Singapore’s Football Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Clube dos 13 which comprises the top football clubs in Brazil which could see Brazilian teams play in Singapore for exhibition matches.

FIFA and the twelve 2006 World Cup Host Cities won the German Sports Marketing Award for 2007 for their organisation of the Fan Fests and their innovative, overall marketing concept for the official public viewing events.

Organisers of the Beijing Olympic Games say they have been deluged by applications to act as volunteers during the 2008 event.

Formula One Management said that Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, has secured the rights to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix from 2009.

The Organising Committee for the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007 (CO-RIO) appointed the Sportfive agency as its exclusive agent for the worldwide distribution of the media rights for this year’s Pan American Games.

Yankee Stadium has been named host of Major League Baseball’s 2008 All-Star Game.

Marketing and PR agency ENS has picked up the account for Welsh brewers SA Brain & Co – sponsors of the Wales’ international rugby team.

One of the most senior IOC figures has hit back over ‘misleading’ concerns over the rising costs of staging the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The organisers of Formula One’s Bahrain Grand Prix secured its long-term future, signing an extended contract with Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone.

Omega further extended its involvement in golf with a deal to become title sponsor of the Mission Hills World Cup.

Tennis Australia signed an exclusive four-year TV and internet deal for the rights to tennis’ Australian Open from 2008 to 2011.

Rugby World Cup 2007, landmark new GAA deals and major sports events including the World Rally Championships and Seve Trophy are all set to push spend by businesses on major sponsorship in Ireland up to a new high of €103 million in 2007.