Bt Backs Bt Great Citygames Manchester
BT is continuing to build on the momentum of London 2012, after it was announced as the new title sponsor of the BT Great CityGames Manchester, which will see major Olympic and Paralympic champions competing in the city centre.
The event, now in its fifth year, will be held on Saturday 25th May and the unique format allows spectators to experience all the action for free, with Paralympic champions also set to compete at the event for the first time.
Olympic gold medallists Greg Rutherford (Great Britain) and Felix Sanchez (Dominican Republic), Paralympic gold medallist Alan Oliveira (Brazil) and silver medallist Stefanie Reid (Great Britain) have confirmed their attendance, with other athletes to be announced in the coming weeks.
A crowd of 20,000 people is expected to gather on Deansgate in Manchester to see some of the world’s greatest athletes compete on a purpose built, IAAF certified track. British Olympic champion Greg Rutherford, and Paralympic silver medallist Stefanie Reid, will both compete in a newly-created long jump arena outside Manchester Town Hall.
Suzi Williams, BT group marketing and brand director, said: ‘We’re excited to be supporting the BT Great CityGames Manchester this May. Following the success of London 2012 it’s a fantastic opportunity for people to get up close and personal to the world’s Olympic and Paralympic champions. We’re especially pleased that this year’s event will showcase elite disability sport, building on BT’s role at the heart of the Paralympic Games and our four year involvement in the BT Paralympic World Cup.’
Brendan Foster, chairman of Nova International, added: ‘The transformational time that Britain went through last year with the unrivalled success of the Paralympics means that these athletes will be some of the biggest stars on the track at the BT Great CityGames Manchester. BT’s involvement with the event shows their commitment to build momentum and to create fun, free and accessible opportunities for the British public to cheer on our athletes.’
Olympic Champion Greg Rutherford commented: ‘The support for British athletes from the public was wonderful at the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I’m sure Manchester will give us an incredible reception. I’m delighted to see the Paralympians being invited for the first time and it shows the remarkable strides that the movement has made. At the end of the day, we are all simply athletes.’
BT also recently announced it had become the first-ever headline partner of the sport industry’s flagship event – the BT Sport Industry Awards.
