The IAAF, which commercialises the title sponsorship rights of the Samsung Diamond League, is delighted to confirm that Samsung have triggered a contractual option to continue as Title Sponsor for the 2012 season.

Samsung, which first signed as the Title Sponsor of the then ‘IAAF Diamond League’ in July 2010 for a two year contract through 2011 with an option for 2012, has gained strong exposure across the 12 markets and 14 meetings of the series, and has enjoyed worldwide exposure thanks to growing TV coverage.

The Samsung Diamond League in 2011 came close to a cumulative total of 290 Million viewers and attracted a rising spectator attendance approaching 400,000 spectators across all 14 meetings.

Australian skipper Michael Clarke, who won the toss and elected to bat in the Adelaide Test on Tuesday, came out to bat with a new logo-- MC 329. The logo MC – 329 compliments the Australian skipper’s memorable triple hundred against India at Sydney.

Clarke has signed a three-year bat sponsorship deal and the new bat has been manufactured in a factory in Jalandhar, a North India city.

Clarke signed the deal last night with Spartan Sporting Goods company, based in Wollongong, south of Sydney.

According to a report, the contract deal figure is in "high-six figures".

As an official media partner of the Leaders in Sponsorship conference, the Sponsorship magazine is pleased to bring our readers the most insightful and latest emerging strategies, technology and information to evolve the sponsorship industry. Enjoy part #1 of #2 of the Leaders in Sponsorship features we will present.

Chelsea Football Club was host to another successful Leaders in Sponsorship event this week. The biggest names in global sport and sponsorship came together over two days to discuss some of the key issues in an ever evolving landscape. The exclusive event attracted over 250 brands, rights holders, advertisers and agencies representing more than 35 different sports around the world.

Brands such as the Florida Marlins, The Breeders Cup, General Electric, UniCredit, Herbalife, Heineken, Nokia, Orange, Paddy Power and Carlsberg shared their experiences and expertise throughout the conference.

Ending a four year absence of professional beach volleyball in Australia, the Renault National Beach Volleyball Series will include both men’s and women’s teams with 500,000 people expected to come into contact with the stadium, courts and entertainment precincts over the series extended 50 days on the beaches this summer.

Round 1 started on 11 November 2011 at Nobby’s Beach, while the final day of competition in Round 8 ends on 1 April 2012 at Sydney’s Manly Beach.

Top Australian and International athletes vying for spots in 2012 London Olympics will compete in the Renault National Beach Volleyball Series, to increase rankings and will provide the platform to develop future stars for the 2018 commonwealth games.

Natalie Cook, a previous Beach Volleyball gold medalist, said the Renault NBVS will be an ideal competition to launch her bid to compete in an unprecedented fifth Olympic Games.

“It is an exciting time for Beach Volleyball in Australia, to be back on the Aussie beaches around the country is important not only to the athletes as we prepare for London 2012, but for the aussie sports culture. The sport continues to grow with lots of young kids wanting to play our sport, and the RNBVS will provide role models and the pathway for them to do so” said Cook