JACUZZI SPAS is using the 2018 Australian Production Cars season as a national Launchpad for its brand.

Jacuzzi Spas, based in Brisbane, took the naming rights for rounds one and two, in May and July, and as part of the sponsorship, will supply $50,000 worth of end-of-year prizes.

Owner and manager Kelli Blair said she was very pleased to be throwing her support behind Australian Production Cars (APC).

“At Jacuzzi Spas’ Queensland dealership, we live and breathe Jacuzzi Spas and believe in the benefits they can offer to elite athletes such as racing car drivers,” Ms Blair said. 

“We are very excited to partner with the Australian Production Cars and look forward to hopefully working with some of its competitors to assist them to be in the best racing form they can be through the benefits of Jacuzzi hydrotherapy.

“As part of our support of the series, we will be offering a $10,000 voucher to the outright winner of the series and $5,000 vouchers to the winners of each class which the recipients can use towards applicable Jacuzzi hot tubs and spas.

“The Australian Production Cars is growing as a real drawcard for the elite racers of both tomorrow and today, and we can’t wait to see what this year’s line-up has in store at the opening round at Sandown Raceway,” she said at the sponsorship announcement.

Jacuzzi Spas Australian Production Cars category manager, Iain Sherrin, said he was “very pleased to welcome the prestigious brand on-board”.

“Everyone at the APC is very excited to have such a well-known and respected global brand getting behind us as we get ready for our 2018 season,” Mr Sherrin said.

“With an over-subscribed field for the season opener, entries flooding in for our future rounds including our own APC-run Phillip Island Six Hour Grand Final, and now this great support from Jacuzzi Spas, this season is shaping up to our best yet.”

www.australianproductioncars.com.au

www.jacuzzibrisbane.com.au/

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EVENT-SPECIALIST lawyers MinterEllison are tracking increased investment in Australian sport by international companies – especially from Asia.

MinterEllison, as the official lawyers of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018), are not only seeing major investment inflows as a result of GC2018 but also into other sporting codes and events.

“We’ve seen first-hand over the last three years a definite increase in interest from overseas parties wanting to participate in the Australian sports and events industry,” MinterEllison sports law expert Paula Robinson said.

“One of the key insights for me has been the growing impact and importance of sport and major sporting events – and indeed the investments made by the wider Asian region.” 

MinterEllison dedicated an embedded team of seven legal experts to provide a fully outsourced legal and brand protection service to GC2018. This ‘first’ was part of a three-year partnership with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) which started in 2015.

Ms Robinson said Australia’s reputation of being a reliable host of major international sporting events, and its growing ability to win prestigious hosting rights, has resulted in international investors seeking new ways to get involved and be ‘seen’ at these events.

“The MinterEllison sports law practice has seen a pattern of new wealth and sporting development/investment coming from the Asian region in particular,” Ms Robinson said.

“Through the Commonwealth Games we've worked on many matters with parties from various nations – juggling expectations, requirements and demands across jurisdictions has been challenging, but being at the ‘pointy-end’ has really highlighted just how strong the interest is coming into Australia and the Games.”

Ms Robinson said the trend was creating new opportunities in areas like broadcasting, sports infrastructure, tourism and sporting event delivery, but also for sport focussed professional services.

Australia hosts established international sporting events including the Australian Grand Prix, Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, and the Australian Tennis Open. Australia has also secured hosting rights to some high profile one-off events such as the Commonwealth Games, the Invictus Games, and the T20 Cricket World Cup.

“Sport is big business globally,” Ms Robinson said. “The region is investing seriously. As disposable income from the region grows, nations are becoming more absorbed in sport. That means more complexity in professional advisory areas and a heightened focus on the legal, financial and governance infrastructure that sits behind sporting organisations and events.

When coupled with the dynamic path forward that sport is taking – the rise in interest in women's sport, like AFLW, and the emergence of new international competitions like the Rugby Tens rugby revolution – it is evident that future opportunities for professional services with strong sporting credentials are abundant.

“There are significant growth opportunities for Australian professional service firms wanting to position themselves as leaders in the Asia-Pacific region,” Ms Robinson said.

“This includes demand from clients seeking to better manage their presence at key sporting events and their involvement with high profile sporting organisations.”

The firm is also the official lawyers of the 2018 Invictus Games to be held in Sydney later this year.

www.minterellison.com

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ALLIANZ Australia has reconfirmed its commitment to Australian para-sport through a new partnership with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) and the Australian Commonwealth Games Team, as well as re-signing with Australian Paralympic Committee (APC).

Allianz has extended its support for the APC to 2021 and is now aligned to the GC2018 Triathlon and the first ever Commonwealth Games Para-triathlon. 

Allianz managing director, Richard Feledy said it was an honour to be supporting Australia’s athletes competing on home soil at GC2018. 

“We are proud to invest in partnerships which reflect inspiration and innovation, which are both an important part of who we are,” Mr Feledy said. “What could be more inspiring than watching our athletes push themselves to the limit?”

“Two of these incredible athletes are Allianz ambassadors, Madison de Rozario and Nic Beveridge,” he said.

“Madison is a three-time Paralympian and a world champion in wheelchair racing, while Nic is an accomplished para-triathlete, having made his Paralympic debut in Rio in 2016.  Both are medal contenders for the Commonwealth Games,” Mr Feledy said. 

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) chairman, former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said GC2018 was proud to partner with Allianz Australia to champion diversity and inclusion in Australia.

Mr Beattie said GC2018 had  the largest integrated para-sport program in Commonwealth Games history with 38 medal events across seven para-sports.

Mr Feledy said Allianz had a long history of supporting diversity and inclusion.
“Through the APC, and their link with the Australian Commonwealth Games team, Allianz’s support will contribute to training programs and facilities, access to medical equipment, and travel needs for the thousands of athletes and supporters travelling to the Gold Coast for the event.” 

He said Allianz was earlier recognised for its workplace programs by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) for the ninth year running,  and has long been recognised for its support of refugee employment and education through a  partnership with Settlement Services International.

“We hope to continue to grow our understanding, and promote representation, of a richly diverse Australia, and translate that to our customers’ experience,” Mr Feledy said.

www.allianz.com.au

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