McDonalds extends Olympic Link
McDonalds has extended its Olympic partnership to 2020.  It will be the official restaurant of the London Olympics with four outlets in the Olympic Park; one for athletes, one for media and two for spectators.  The company has 75 restaurants in Ireland, employing 3,500 people.  It opened its first outlet here in 1977, one year after its first sponsorship agreement with the IOC.  The deal is estimated to be worth more than €200 million.
English Rugby signs up drinks and nutrition partners
The English Rugby Football Union has signed up Lucozade Sport as official energy drink supplier and Maxinutrition as its official sports nutrition product for its elite teams.  Both brands are part of Glaxo Smithkline Beecham which has operations in Waterford.  Powerade is the official sports drink of the Irish Rugby Football union but no sports nutrition partner is listed among the sports partners in Ireland.
Irish top youth golf rankings
Stephanie Meadow and Leona Maguire have topped the European Ladies Amateur Golf rankings.  Meadow is studying at the University of Alabama and plays out of Royal Portrush while Maguire is a member of Slieve Russel in County Cavan.  The pair lie fourth and sixth respectively in the world rankings and would present a great opportunity for commercial partners should they choose to turn professional.