Des Lynam gets the Mario look

Nintendo is to sponsor Des Lynam's moustache.

The deal is a bizarre promotional stunt for Super Mario Sunshine, a GameCube title featuring Nintendo's iconic Mario character.

Sports commentator and TV personality Lynam will dye his moustache purple for the launch. But although the sponsorship will run for a year, Lynam's moustache will not stay that colour for the whole duration.

Nintendo spokesman Andy Williams said the partnership marked a meeting of "two true moustachioed icons" of the age.