Which sporting event and sponsor can boast the World's oldest sporting sponsorship deal?

The title of the world's longest-running sporting sponsorship in history belongs to that between Slazenger and the Wimbledon tournament, now in its 120th year. Slazenger tennis balls were initially used at the Wimbledon competition in 1902, at the request of players, and the brand has been Wimbledon's official ball supplier ever since.

Wimbledon's first formal sponsorship came in 1902 when Slazenger was appointed as the official supplier of tennis balls. The deal was likely influenced by Archdale Palmer, then Secretary of the All England Club, who later became Managing Director at Slazenger. The partnership continues today and is considered the longest-running in sports history.