Nike "has severed its relationship with Manny Pacquiao over his homophobic comments made in a Filipino television interview." Pacquiao, who is running for re-election to the Filipino senate, said that "people in same-sex relationships were 'worse than animals.'" In a press release, Nike called Pacquiao’s comments “abhorrent.”
The company said, "Nike strongly opposed discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community" (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, 2/17). ... Car window repair service Junited Autoglas "has reached deals with nine German football clubs across three leagues for the next two months." The company "will activate its partnerships from mid-February until mid-April." The marketing package "will include ad space in camera view at about 30 home games." Junited pays an estimated €100,000 ($111,000) for the rights (SPONSORs, 2/17). ... Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin signed a new partnership with Lekker Energie. The energy provider has signed on as a third-tier partner until the end of the '15-16 season (Hertha Berlin). ... German second division handball club GWD Minden has extended its kit supply deal with Hummel. The brand has been a partner of the club since '64. Hummel will supply the team until the end of the '18-19 season (GWD Minden). ... Lagardère Sports announced it signed a representation agreement with elite American junior tennis player Ulises Blanch. Blanch will be represented by Lagardère Sports Senior VP of Tennis Julien Cassaigne and Dir of Tennis Fabrizio Sestini (Lagardère). ... The Volvo Ocean Race confirmed that North Sails "will be the exclusive sail supplier" for the '17-18 edition of the 40,000nm round the world race.
North Sails "has been deeply involved in the Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Race since the mid-1980’s." Collaboration between North Sails and Volvo Ocean Race programs has led to "breakthrough technology," most recently North Sails 3Di (SAIL WORLD, 2/16). ... Tangerine has been appointed to manage the U.K. press office for the Spartan Race.
The team will work with Spartan’s digital marketing agency to raise awareness and drive footfall to each of the six races taking part in '16 through media relations, partnership activation, event media management and celebrity engagement (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 2/17). ... Liverpool "announced a new sponsorship deal with Thai coconut water brand Chaokoh."
The three-year agreement, which designates Chaokoh as the official coconut water partner of the club, is "the first time the club has signed a global deal with a Thai company" (SOCCEREX, 2/17). ... Inter Milan and Pirelli "are on the verge of signing a new three-year deal" to extend their 20-year partnership. The new agreement, "which comes after both parties had suggested the relationship might come to an end," is expected to be worth a minimum of €10M ($11M) a season -- in comparison with the current one reportedly worth €14M ($15.5M) a season -- but also includes large bonuses for the Milan club based on results -- potentially doubling in the event Inter Milan wins the Champions League in the next three years (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 2/17).
