The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today awarded the Japan Consortium the broadcast rights in Japan for the XXII Olympic Winter Games (2014) in Sochi, Russia, and the Games of the XXXI Olympiad (2016) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Japan Consortium, which includes NHK (the Japan Broadcasting Corporation) and the National Association of Commercial Broadcasters of Japan, has acquired the broadcast rights across all media platforms, including free-to-air television, subscription television, internet and mobile.

A new sponsor has been announced for the Ladies European Tour's 2012 Order of Merit. The sponsor is ISPS Handa, founded by Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa in 2006 to support charitable causes throughout the sporting world.

The Ladies European Tour Order of Merit will now be known as the ISPS Handa Order of Merit and at the end of the season there will be a bonus of 20,000 euro for the top ranked golfer, to be awarded by Dr. Handa.

The 2012 Ladies European Tour season kicks off this week with the Gold Coast RACV Australian Ladies Masters taking place at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast in Queensland from 2-5 February and this will be the first event to count towards the 2012 ISPS Handa Order of Merit.

The next event will be the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open from 9-12 February and then the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women's Open, hosted by Christchurch, from 17-19 February.

The International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) is also the title sponsor of the ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters, taking place from 16-18 August, just after The Olympic Games and before the Paralympic Games.

ISPS Chairman Dr Haruhisa Handa said: "ISPS is delighted to become title sponsor of the Ladies European Tour's Order of Merit. Given that ISPS is already the title sponsor of three tournaments on the 2012 Ladies European Tour schedule this year, it seemed a natural progression to a extend our relationship with women's professional golf.

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) today welcomed CIB Insurance Administrators (CIB) into their sponsorship family after CIB secured a new three year partnership deal as an associate sponsor for Vodacom Super Rugby. Vodacom Super Rugby is the largest rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere, consisting of a total of 15 teams – five each from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. It attracts the best players from these three rugby superpowers and dates back to 1993, when the inaugural Super 10 started.

CIB's associate sponsorship will run from 2012 to 2014.

The England and Wales Cricket Board today announced a new broadcasting agreement with Sky Sports for the next four year cycle from 2014-17. Sky Sports has won the rights to show live domestic and international cricket in England and Wales as part of a package which includes all England's home Test, One-Day International and T20 series, selected England Lions and England Women's fixtures plus 60 days of domestic cricket every season.

Following last week's announcement of a new six-year deal with BBC Radio, ECB's broadcasting agreements for the next contractual cycle will deliver an overall increase in revenues compared with the previous four year period.