BT Paralympic World Cup Announces John Lewis Partnership as Sponsor

The BT Paralympic World Cup has today announced the John Lewis Partnership as sponsors of the event volunteering programme.

The sponsorship builds on the Partnership’s commitment to sport in the run up to London 2012, which they have been doing through their Partners in Sport programme. Designed to put something back into the community through sport, the initiative has already had enormous success in its sponsorship of London 2012 hopefuls and providing its Partners (staff) with the opportunity to train as sports coaches.

John Lewis Partnership’s sponsoring of the BT Paralympic World Cup volunteering programme is a further demonstration of their commitment to supporting world-class elite sports in this country.

The Partnership’s support has allowed for a number of exciting additions to the volunteering programme, including bespoke customer service training at the volunteer training day, a volunteer celebration following the event and volunteer goodie bags.

As part of their partnership with the event, 50 Partners from John Lewis and Waitrose have the opportunity to volunteer at the BT Paralympic World Cup in various roles including competition venue assistants for event services, VIPs and media, and transport liaison.

Simon Wardell, Development Manager, Partners in Sport, John Lewis Partnership, said, “We are delighted to be able to support the BT Paralympic World Cup and I know that our Partners are looking forward to the opportunity to help out at such an exciting event.

“As a business, we are already engaged in lots of activities in the run up to London 2012, whether it be through John Lewis’s sponsorship as the official department store provider to London 2012 or, through our Partners in Sport programme.”

BT Paralympic World Cup spokesperson, Mark de St Croix, said, “We are delighted to welcome John Lewis Partnership on board as the official sponsor of the BT Paralympic World Cup 2011 volunteering programme.

“Volunteers are crucial to the event’s success and it could not take place without their dedicated help and support throughout the competition. John Lewis’s involvement has added great value to the programme including the addition of a post-event volunteer celebration in the John Lewis Trafford Store.”

The BT Paralympic World Cup is the largest annual international multi-sport competition in elite disability sport. BT is entering its third year as title sponsor, in a sponsorship which runs up to and includes the 2012 BT Paralympic World Cup.

Manchester has committed for the seventh consecutive year to hosting elite international athletes competing across Wheelchair Basketball, Athletics and Swimming. In addition, Boccia and Sitting Volleyball will be represented for the first time, with international matches staged during the competition.

The 2011 BT Paralympic World Cup will receive unprecedented television coverage, with Channel 4 committing to a two hour live programme on 28 May, as well daily highlights packages on 26 and 27 May. Live daily streaming from each sport will also be broadcast on the Channel 4 website: www.channel4.com/paralympics.

The BT Paralympic World Cup is sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) and supported by ParalympicsGB, BT and Manchester City Council.

Tickets for the BT Paralympic World Cup are now on sale. For more information visit: www.btparalympicworldcup.com

The event schedule will see the Manchester Regional Arena host Wheelchair Basketball on 23-26 May and Athletics on 27 May, with the Manchester Aquatics Centre hosting the Swimming competition on 27-28 May. The Sitting Volleyball international match will be staged at the Regional Arena on 25 May and the Boccia match on 26 May.