U.K. optician Specsavers has agreed to become the official optician and hearing care provider of Rugby League World Cup 2013. It has also agreed to become the official sponsor of the match officials for the tournament. Specsavers' logo will be displayed on the front of the match officials' kit (Rugby League). ... The Australian Football League extended its partnership with Virgin Australia through '18. The league's official airline since '11, Virgin Australia will be the naming-rights partner of the Grand Final Half Time Show, the post-match Premiership Party and the Grand Final Week Party (AFL). ... The Rugby Football League has announced a two-year extension to its decade-long partnership with Gillette. The deal will see Gillette continue as England's main sponsor for Rugby League World Cup in '13, when its logo will feature on the national team's playing strip (RFL). ... Stadium catering company Aramark has signed a long-term deal with 2nd Bundesliga club FC Cologne. The company will provide fans at all public events with food and beverages starting with the '13-14 season (Aramark). ... Brazilian side Corinthians "has signed a two-and-a-half year extension to its shirt sponsorship deal with Italian telecommunications firm TIM." TIM will now partner with Corinthians through Jan. '16 and "will continue to have branding presence within the numbers on the back of the club’s shirts, along with displaying its logo at the team’s training ground" (SOCCEREX, 9/25). ... Spanish third division side Real Oviedo and Spanish second division side Sporting Gijon on Wednesday presented money raised by sales of a book titled "Un Derbi Solidario" ("A Sympathetic Rivalry") to the Association of Families of People with Autism (ADANSI). The book, a collection of 46 stories by 46 journalists, was sponsored by Spanish bank Herrero and Paraninfo Editorial and "sold out in weeks," raising €9,298 ($12,585) for ADANSI (AS, 9/25).
