Sponsor Spotlight -- Baku Sponsor; Nanjing Cars; Helios Atlanta Office Closes

(ATR) The Baku 2015 brand will now be seen in "virtually every retail outlet in Azerbaijan."

Procter & Gamble, an IOC TOP Sponsor, was announced as the first sponsor for the 2015 European Games on Wednesday.

Taygun Gunay, director of P&G Azerbaijan, said the company "considers this as a natural continuation of its successful on-going cooperation" with the International Olympic Committee and Azeri National Olympic Committee.

"The agreement that we sign today demonstrates the united purposes of the Baku 2015 European Games - to improve life through sport - and of P&G to touch and improve people's lives.

"P&G will support the Baku 2015 European Games through its world-class brand-building capability and retail customer relationships in virtually every retail outlet in Azerbaijan."

Baku 2015 commercial director Charlie Wijeratna added: "Procter& Gamble have a long-standing history of supporting major international sports events and we are delighted to be welcoming them on board as our first official partner.

"As a company, they understand the importance of using the power of sport to help change lives for the better, and that is why they are a perfect partner for the first ever European Games."

Nanjing Announce Automobile Partner

Green buses will carry athletes to their events at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.

SAIC Motor will be providing "green" buses that will operate throughout the city during the Youth Olympic Games, as the company signed on to be an automobile partner for the 2014 YOG.

Nanjing promised to make the 2014 YOG the most environmentally friendly YOG ever.

Liu Yi-an, standing vice secretary general of the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee, and Zhou Lang-hui, the vice president of SAIC Motor were present at the signing ceremony, which unveiled the 300 buses that will be used throughout Nanjing.

SAIC Motor also pledged to donate 1,000 vehicles in total to be used for the Youth Olympics.

The city also will utilize the metro system and bicycle kiosks around the city to help reduce carbon emissions before the Games.

Helios Closes Atlanta Office

Corporate restructuring leads to the end of business for the Atlanta office of Helios Partners.

The firm was known for its work on Olympic bids such as Sochi 2014 but also was involved in marketing sponsorships for a variety of non-Olympic sports properties around the world.

"Over the past few months, Helios has been undergoing a process of refining and refocusing its core business and priorities going forward," says Helios chief Chris Renner in a statement from Paris, where the company is headquartered.

Helios was founded in 2004 by Terrence Burns and Chris Welton, both veterans in Olympic sponsorship. The Paris-based Amaury Group acquired a majority stake in Helios in 2008, but the relationship Burns and Welton had with the French owners soured in 2012. Both parted from the company just over a year ago amid some acrimony and payouts.

Kevin Donovan, an exec in the closed office,tells Around the Rings that he and some of his colleagues hope to work on a contract basis with Helios on specific projects, such as a 2022 Winter Olympic bid.

Donovan says the Atlanta office shut its doors for the last time May 15. The redundancy affects around 10 people.

Brazil Operations Partnership

Sportsworld and Traffic Sports will help facilitate operations for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.

"We believe Traffic Sportsworld is uniquely positioned to exceed our previous delivery achievements by utilizing the core strengths of Traffic Sports and Sportsworld to create a lasting legacy and strong return on investment for our clients," Sponsor Services Director, Len Olender told Around the Rings.

The two companies will work together to provide hospitality arrangements for those travelling to either events.

Spain 2014 Gets Printers

Kyocera will be the local supplier of printers for the Basketball World Cup in Spain.

"It is a great satisfaction to add a leading company in technology and innovation like Kyocera," FEB president Jose Luis Saez said in a statement.

"Working with them, we will achieve the challenge of having the most modern FIBA Basketball World Cup."

FINA Sells Japanese Rights

TV Asahi has renewed the rights to broadcast major FINA events in Japan.

The agreement has been in place since 2001, and has been extended through 2019 including broadcasting the 2015, 2017, and 2019 World Championships

Written by Ed Hula,Ed Hula III,and Aaron Bauer

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