BP sponsors US Paralympics teams

BP and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) have announced that the energy company will sponsor six US Paralympics national teams as they prepare for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games and the Toyko 2020 Paralympic Games.

The sponsorship will help cover the training and travel costs of the US national teams for cycling, swimming, track and field, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and snowboarding.

“BP is honoured to support these world-class Paralympic athletes who represent the best in their sports and the best of our country,” said John Mingé, chairman and president of BP America. “This sponsorship underscores our commitment to their success, along with our broader commitment to America, where we invest more than in any other country.”

Rick Adams, USOC chief of Paralympics and sport operations, said: “BP continues to demonstrate a great commitment to Paralympic sport through sponsorship of six US Paralympics national teams. BP’s support will help our elite athletes to train and compete at the highest level in an effort to achieve their Paralympic dreams.”

The sponsorship marks the latest effort by BP to support the Paralympic Movement in the United States and abroad.

In 2015, BP became the first-ever corporate partner of the US Olympic Committee to sponsor an athlete roster featuring more Paralympians than Olympians. Two years prior to that, BP donated USD 1 million to help build the Ted Stevens Sports Services Centre on the US Olympic Training Centre campus in Colorado Springs and to support existing Paralympic programmes.

In addition, BP is an international partner of the International Paralympic Committee, as well as a sponsor of the National Paralympic Committees in several countries around the world.

Apart from those sponsorships, BP and local BP-branded fuel retailers will continue to play an important part in building awareness of the Paralympic Movement in the U.S. through grassroots support of US Paralympic Sports Clubs. Since 2011, BP-branded retailers in 13 states have donated more than USD 900,000 to their local clubs.