BP Backs British Athletes In Bid For Rio
BP is continuing its commitment to British athletes by becoming a top level partner of both the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the British Paralympic Association (BPA), in a deal that will run through to the end of 2016, covering Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016.
The sponsor will continue its relationship with the six Olympic and Paralympic men and women it supported in the run up to London 2012: Lizzie Armitstead (road race cyclist), Jessica Ennis-Hill (heptathlete), Stef Reid (long jumper), William Sharman (110m hurdler), Richard Whitehead (200m sprinter) and Shelly Woods (wheelchair racer).
Peter Mather, BP’s Group Regional Vice President for UK/Europe said: ‘The UK has been the home of BP for over 100 years, and we are delighted to contribute to British life in many different ways.’
‘We are particularly pleased to support such strong organisations, with their unique values and amazing athletes, as they strive for great achievements over the next few years.’
Luc Bardin, BP’s Global Head of Marketing, commented: ‘We are proud to have been part of the incredible success of Team GB and ParalympicsGB in London 2012 and we look forward to celebrating their achievements in Sochi and Rio.’
‘We forged unique associations with Team GB, ParalympicsGB and a team of wonderful athletes over the past four years in the run up to and including the Games last summer. Although BP is not a sponsor of the Winter Olympics in Sochi or Summer Olympics in Rio, we felt it was right that we deepened those partnerships and continued our support for UK athletes.’
Jessica Ennis-Hill, London 2012 Olympic gold medallist, added: ‘On behalf of the BP athletes, we are delighted that BP has decided to continue supporting us in our campaigns to reach Rio. BP’s help made a big difference in our preparations for London 2012.’
BP also became an official partner of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last month.
Beyond the UK, BP has already agreed partnerships to the end of Rio 2016 with the local Olympic and Paralympic committees of the US, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Trinidad & Tobago and the local Paralympic Committees of Angola and Georgia.
