December 2 - USA Luge have announced that Norton Abrasives, which has done business with the team since the 1980s, will continue as its primary sponsor through the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

USA Luge have announced that Norton Abrasives, which has done business with the team since the 1980s, will continue as its primary sponsor through the 2014 Sochi Olympics.


Gordy Sheer, the team's director of marketing and sponsorship, said:  "That's big news for USA Luge.

"We're so happy to have Norton with us through 2014 and heading towards the Olympics in Sochi.

"That's tremendous and that's a partnership that by the time the Olympic Games in Sochi run around we'll be creeping up on 30 years of working together."

USA Luge, based in Lake Placid, revealed the extended deal at an Olympic team event in New York.

USA Luge has been hurt in recent months by some sponsor defections brought on by the economic downtown, as many national governing bodies for Olympic sports have.

Norton vice president Mark Rayfield said: "The partnership's been great.

"Not only the monetary support that we provide, but what's special about our partnership is our products, our engineers, our research and development folks who are so close to this team now are able to do something to these sleds.

"We're very proud to be the difference."

Norton has already been receiving primary logo placement on sleds, clothing, hats, helmets and vehicles.