Sponsor Spotlight -- UK Sport Olympic Funding; First Shirt Sponsor for Barcelona

Funding Boost for Britain's 2012 Medal Goals

Six Olympic sports received a major boost in their London 2012 preparations Thursday after UK Sport announced extra funding for them in the push for medal success.

The British government's funding agency for elite sport said that hockey, gymnastics, boxing, taekwondo, rowing and canoeing were getting increases ranging between $310,233 and $1.78 million. Badminton has had its funding reduced, reflecting performances at recent championships.

It is part of UK Sport’s annual funding review for summer sports, with the additional money coming partly from strong lottery sales.

Sue Campbell, chair of UK Sport, said: "2010 has been an incredibly positive year for many of our Summer Olympic and Paralympic sports and our announcement today reflects that sense of momentum to 2012.

"Sports now know what they have for the final push – this review represents the last significant opportunity for changes to investment before 2012.

"We believe we have got it right for hitting our targets in two years time – not just in finishing in the top 4 in the Olympics and second in the Paralympics but, crucially for a home Games, winning more medals across more sports than ever before."

Olympics minister Hugh Robertson said the announcement "demonstrates our commitment to support our top athletes across a range of sports to make sure they can reach their potential".

In its first round of winter sports funding, UK Sport increased its overall investment from $10.2 million for Vancouver to $17.8 million for Sochi.

Skeleton is the biggest beneficiary, following Amy Williams's skeleton gold in Vancouver, with a funding increase of $3.3 million.

But there is no investment at all in figure skating, men’s bobsleigh, snowboarding and skiing.

Judged on the same ‘no compromise’ criteria as the summer sports, they failed to meet the performance criteria needed to receive funding.

Campbell added: "Beijing showed that the UK Sport ‘no compromise’ approach works and it is right this is now embedded across the whole high performance system."

Barcelona Signs First-ever Jersey Sponsorship

Spanish football club Barcelona has broken a 111-year old tradition by selling advertising on its jerseys.

Therecord-setting five-yeardeal is worth more than $200 million. It was signed late last weekwith the Qatar Foundation, an organization primarilyinvolved in education in the Middle East.

It is the first time Barcelona has sold advertisingon its jerseys. The foundation will share space on club jerseys withUNICEF.

"With this deal, Barcelona places itself as the indisputable brand leader in world football ahead of our international competitors," the club said in a statement.

Sochi Unveils Coins

Sochi 2014 will release the first of its collectible coins sometime in 2011.

Partner Sberbank of Russia will release a series ofgold and silver Olympic and Paralympic coins, organizers said in a news release.

Series themes will feature "Olympic Sports", "Mass Sports", "Olympic Venues", "Cultural Heritage" and "The uniqueness of the Sochi Region".

Sochi 2014 President Dmitry Chernyshenko said the coins' manufacturewill use"innovative technologies".

McDonald’s Financial Report

TOP sponsor McDonald’s reported its global comparable sales rose 4.8 percent in November.

Global comparable sales were up 4.9 percent in both U.S. and Europe. The Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa region saw an increase of 2.4 percent.

""McDonald's continued strong performance reflects the benefits of our global alignment around the Plan to Win," said McDonald's Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner.

The report credited the U.S. increase to the reintroduction of the McRib sandwich.

Visa Increase in Asia Pacific

Visareportsan increase in card spending in the Asia Pacific region.

Nearly $800 billion was spent using Visa cards in the Asia Pacific region over the last 12 months through Sept. 30. That is up 12 percent from last year.

"Asia Pacific accounts for more than 50 percent of the world’s population and as such it continues to provide significant growth opportunities for Visa and our bank clients," Elizabeth Buse, Group Executive, International, Visa Inc. said in a press release.

Media Watch ...

... MarketingWeek says adidas has named Barry Moore as its head of communications for London 2012 marketing.

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With reporting from Isia Reaves Wilcox

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