Adidas Continues to Monitor IAAF Fallout - Sponsor Spotlight

(ATR) Adidas says it remains a sponsor of the International Association of Athletics Federations but the sportswear company continues to monitor the state of the federation.

In January, media reports saidthat Adidas had terminated its sponsorship of the IAAF amid a vast doping scandal and corruption probes against the organization. Herbert Hainer, Adidas chief executive, set the record straight at the company's annual press conference on Mar. 3.

"We have not terminated our contract with [the IAAF]," Hainer said at the press conference.

"The IAAF knows exactly where we are going with our policy in terms of doping. We are in very close contact with the IAAF and will watch very closely what they are doing with this problem."

Adidas’ contract with the IAAF is slated to run until 2020. The IAAF has lost one sponsor in Nestle due to the ongoing Russian doping scandal and corruption probe into former president Lamine Diack.

Tokyo 2020 Continues to Add Domestic Partners

Through their new domestic partnership Mitsubishi Electric is helping Tokyo 2020 become barrier free.

The addition of Mitsubishi brings Tokyo 2020 to 13 second tier sponsors and 28 sponsors overall. Mitsubishi will provide elevators, escalators, and moving walkways for Tokyo 2020.

"Mitsubishi Electric is making a significant contribution to the realization of a barrier-free society and to promoting para-sports," Yoshiro Mori, Tokyo 2020 president, said in a statement.

"Shortly after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the company will be marking its centenary, and Tokyo 2020 is delighted to have such an illustrious partner on board."

Las Vegas Sevens Gets Title Sponsor

Global bank HSBC will sponsor the USA Rugby Sevens tournament in 2016.

The tournament is the fifth stop on the World Rugby Sevens series and has featured in the series since 2003-04. The current location for the tournament is Las Vegas, which has served as host since 2009-10.

"The USA is undoubtedly a growing force in World Rugby, so to see Las Vegas host a global rugby event of this magnitude is fitting," Giles Morgan, Global Head of Sponsorship and Events at HSBC, said in a statement.

"Rugby has a huge opportunity in 2016 to truly become a true global sport, and we are proud to continue to help drive forward this growth of the game globally through are participation with Rugby Sevens across the globe and can't wait for the action to start in Las Vegas."

In addition, shipping company DHL extended their sponsorship with USA Sevens for 2016. The company has been a global sponsor for the sport since 2010.

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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