Europe

Leading sports retailer Intersport has enhanced its partnership with the Vierschanzentournee - also known as the Four Hills Tournament - by becoming the official presenting sponsor of the winter sports showpiece.

Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom has extended its support of the Russian Olympic Committee to include the 2016 Olympic Games and 2018 winter Games.

Cloud computing company EMC is using a consistent sponsorship strategy across its portfolio to build brand image and grow revenues.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, marketing director of Uefa Events, believes that the federation is on course to hit its projected revenue target for sponsorship rights connected with Euro 2016, despite the current shortfall of three Global Partners.

French lottery operator Française des Jeux (FDJ) signed a deal with Uefa’s to become a National Sponsor of Euro 2016 in France.

The InfrontRingier Sports & Entertainment agency has struck a long-term deal to offer the main sponsorship packages of the Swiss Indoors Basel ATP World Tour 500 men’s tennis tournament.

Healthcare and pharmaceutical brand Abbott has signed the title rights to the World Marathon Majors (WMM) for four years, from 2015 to 2018, as part of a larger overall spend on the six-marathon series.

Premium lager brand Heineken took a “leap of faith” in deciding to sponsor European club rugby’s revamped, elite tournaments because it had doubts about the organiser’s commercial concept, Hans Erik Tuijt, global activation director of Heineken International, told Sports Sponsorship Insider this month.

Consumer electronics brand Samsung signed a three-year deal this month with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) as it expands its UK portfolio.

The German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) national governing body has extended its partnership with the Infront Sports & Media agency.

English Premier League football club Arsenal has appointed foreign exchange and contracts for difference trading provider Markets.com as its official forex, CFD and binary trading partner.

The Infront Sports & Media agency and Italian publishing house 24 ORE Group have been appointed as commercial advisers to the FIGC, football’s governing body in Italy.

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) has announced that Swiss luxury watch brand Tissot will again serve as the official timekeeper of its winter Universiade for the 2015 edition of the biennial multi-sport event.

English Premier League football team Aston Villa has announced Asia Travel Corporation as its official Far East online travel partner for the 2014-15 campaign.

English Super League rugby league champion St Helens has signed a three-year kit deal with Irish sports apparel manufacturer O’Neills Sportswear.

Italian banking group Cariparma Credit Agricole has agreed a three-year extension to its contract as the main sponsor of the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR).