Sponsor Spotlight -- Bridgestone Becomes TOP Sponsor; BP, Tissot Sponsor Baku

TOKYO, JAPAN - JUNE 13: (L-R) Naoko Takahashi, Bridgestone CMO Syuichi Ishibashi, Bridgestone COO Kazuhisa Nishigai, Bridgestone CEO Masaaki Tsuya, President of the International Olympics Committee Thomas Bach, Vice President of International Olympic Committee John Coates, Tokyo 2020 Olympic organizing committee chairman Yoshiro Mori, Japanese Olympic Committee President Tsunekazu Takeda and Kosuke Kitajima pose for a photo during a press conference to announce the partnership between Bridgestone Corporation and the International Olympic Committee on June 13, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. Bridgestone has joined the 11 top-ranked worldwide sponsors under the The Olympic Partner Program. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images for Bridgestone)

(ATR) The IOC announced Bridgestone as the newest company to join its TOP Sponsor program.

Bridgestone inked the agreement through 2024 to include the Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, Tokyo 2020, 2022, and 2024 Olympics. Previous reports stated that Bridgestone would only serve as a TOP Sponsor through 2020.

IOC president Thomas Bach was joined byMasaaki Tsuya, CEO of Bridgestone, for a signing ceremony in Tokyo at Bridgestone headquarters.

Bridgestone is the first tire company to be a TOP Sponsor of the IOC and joins Panasonic as the only Japanese companies in the program.

Panasonic is the only other TOP Sponsor signed through the 2024 Olympics.

The product categories covered by the agreement includeseismic isolation bearings, non-motorized bicycles, and the different ranges of Bridgestone tires. The tires will appear on all athlete, media, and organizer transport vehicles during the Olympic Games.

This is the first major signing for new IOC Marketing Commission chairman Tsunekazu Takeda. Takeda is also the president of the Japanese Olympic Committee, and vice president of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee.

"I am delighted that a leading Japanese company, Bridgestone, will become the 11th worldwide TOP Partner and the second TOP Partner to commit through to 2024," Tsunekazu Takeda said in a statement.

"I am also personally very happy that we were able to make this global announcement in Tokyo."

Baku Adds Two Sponsors

British Petroleum sill Sponsor the Baku 2015 Games, as well as provide assistance to Azeri athletes.

BP was named an official partner of Baku 2015 Thursday, serving as the oil and gas partner of the games.Azad Rahimov, chief executive of Baku European Games Operation Committee, and Ian Sutherland of BP were on hand for a signing ceremony during Baku's "One Year to Go" celebrations.

As part of the sponsorship, BP will provide assistance to Azeri medal hopefuls ahead of the European Games.

"I am sure its support will help support the Games across Azerbaijan and Europe, and also help develop our athletes further in their pursuit of excellence," Rahimov said in a statement.

Athletes' times at the Baku 2015 European Games will be handled by Tissot.

Tissot receives the right to use the Baku 2015 logo on its merchandise, while all timekeeping and scoring services will be handled by the Swiss watch company. Tissot will also create a marketing campaign for Baku 2015 across Europe.

"This association provides strong assurance for the timekeeping and scoring at the Games, and also the opportunity to promote Baku 2015 internationally through a high caliber brand of strong international repute," Simon Clegg, Baku 2015 COO, said in a statement.

For Baku's "One Year to Go" celebrations, Tissot gave the city two countdown clocks. One will be placed in the city center, while the other will be showcased in Heydar Aliev International Airport.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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