The Indian Olympic Association has paid advance installments of Rs. 1 lakh ($1,750) to the hockey players who left for a European tour on their way to the London Games. The payment comes after the IOA had promised "to share sponsors' money with qualified sportspersons for the Olympics." IOA acting President Vijay Kumar Malhotra said, "Each athlete going to London will get between Rs. 2.5-3 lakh ($4,400-$5,300) from the IOA. Malhotra further clarified that if the IOA gets more sponsors before the Games, "that money would also be shared with the sportspersons" (PTI, 6/26).
EN ROUTE: American Airlines has been named the official airline partner of the 2012 Int'l Surfing Association's World Masters Surfing Championship, which will be held in Nicaragua from July 14-22. As part of the deal, American Airlines is offering those flying to the event an exclusive discount of 10% off any published AA airfare to Nicaragua (American Airlines).
NEW DEALS: The WTA has partnered with California Products Corp. and Chinese clothing brand Erke. California Products is a court surface provider and its brands DecoTurf and Plexipave will become the official court surface of the WTA and WTA Tennis Festivals. Erke will be the official partner and supplier of sports apparel for all on-court officials at the 2012 and 2013 TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships in Istanbul (WTA).
TIRES FOR TOUR: German tire manufacturer Continental will supply four of the 22 Tour de France teams with its tires. The four teams that will use Continental tries are BMC Racing, Orica GreenEdge Cycling, Lotto Belisol and Moviestar. The race will start in the Belgium town of Liege on June 30 (Continental).
