Champion Europe has signed on with the Brazilian Basketball Federation (CBB) to be the official and exclusive sponsor of the men’s national team, which is trying to qualify for a spot in next month’s Olympics. Champion is also outfitting the national youth team as well as the women’s team, which has already won a place in the Beijing Games. The deal, which runs through 2012, calls for Champion Europe and the federation to organize competitions in Europe, advertise and promote the federation and help develop basketball in Brazil. The company has the right to merchandise anywhere in the world a line of officially licensed products for the CBB, which was previously sponsored by a local Brazilian firm, including authentic and replica uniforms. Champion Europe has started to sell the line at its Basketball Central stores in Milan and Bologna and is conducting discussions with potential distributors in Brazil and elsewhere.