Coke Joins Rugby World Cup; HSBC Sponsors IRB

Coke Joins Rugby World Cup

Coca-Cola will serve as a supplier of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

The 20 teams participating in the event will drink water and Powerade supplied by the beverage maker and spectators will drink soft drinks from the Coca-Cola company.

"We look forward to working closely with Coca-Cola to promote Rugby around the world as the global sporting community counts down to the start of Rugby World Cup 2011 in just under a year’s time and a Tournament that looks set to position Rugby in new markets around the world, reaching out to new communities and audiences," International Rugby Board and Rugby World Cup Limited chairman Bernard Lapasset said in a press release.

Coca-Cola first partnered with the Rugby World Cup in 1995 in South Africa.

Rugby Sponsorship Marks Olympic Anniversary

The International Rugby Board announced HSBC as the first ever title sponsor of the IRB Sevens World Series.

The announcement came on the one-year anniversary of Rugby Sevens being voted into the Olympic Games program at the IOC Session in Copenhagen. It will debut at the Rio 2016 Games.

The five-year deal covers an IRB Series which includes tournaments in Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, USA, Australia, Hong Kong, England and Scotland. The new name for you the tournament is the HSBC Sevens World Series.

"The appointment of a market leader in the banking industry as title sponsor of the IRB Sevens World Series further enhances Rugby Sevens’ prominent stature as an Olympic sport with significant prestige and attraction within the global marketplace," said IRB president Bernard Lapasset.

"We look forward to working in close collaboration with HSBC to further the promotion of the Game in new and existing rugby markets as we count down to Sevens’ Olympic Games debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, an event that will herald the beginning of another exciting chapter in the Rugby Sevens success story."

World Series of Boxing Has New Agency

The World Series of Boxing has chosen 776 Original Marketing as its exclusive sales and marketing agency for North and Central America.

"As a new global property, it is extremely important for the World Series of Boxing to select the right partners in every area of our business," Eric Parthen, Managing Director, World Series of Boxing Americas, said.

"In 776 Original Marketing, we have a partner that brings the experience, passion and international credibility necessary to deliver successful marketing programs and significantly elevateour brand."

The company will assist in the selection and sale of commercial rights agreements for sponsorships and licensing.

The World Series of Boxing will begin its inaugural season in November

U.S. Ski Team and Snowboarding Lands Sponsor

Putnam Investments is the new mutual fund sponsor of the U.S. Ski Team and U. S. Snowboarding.

The global money management firm will support athletes in alpine, freestyle and cross-country skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding and Nordic combined for the U.S.

"The drive for excellence among these highly competitive athletes reflects Putnam’s performance-driven philosophy," Putnam president Robert L. Reynolds said in a press release.

"We believe these athletes will be outstanding ambassadors for Putnam, both in the U.S. and abroad, and look to them bringing home the goldfrom around the world."

U.S. alpine, freestyle and Nordic team athletes will wear uniforms sporting Putnam Investment’s logo. The company also will be involved with an associate sponsorship of the Prey Race Week World Cup.

The sponsorship will last through the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Reem Acra Sponsors FEI Event

International fashion designer, Reem Acra will sponsor the Western European League and the FEI World Cup Dressage final after signing a three-year deal.

"I have always loved horses and have watched and admired Dressage events for many years," Reem Acra said in a press release.

"For me it is the most beautiful and stylish discipline within the equestrian world so I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to take a more active role in the sport."

The Western European League will be renamed Reem Acra Western European League.

The fashion designer also will sponsor the FEI World Cup Dressage final in Odense, Denmark in November.

Media Watch

MSNBC reports that San Francisco has taken steps to ban Happy Meals from TOP Sponsor McDonald’s.

To subscribe to Around the Rings Click Here

With reporting from Isia Reaves Wilcox

For general comments or questions, click here