Ottobock’s Sochi 2014 services open for business

“Over 25 years of partnership Ottobock has grown into one of the Paralympic Movement’s most loyal and reliable partners,” Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said.

Ottobock, the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Worldwide Paralympic Partner, has opened five technical workshops provide repair and maintenance services for equipment used by Paralympians at the Sochi 2014 Games.

Technical service workshops located in the two Athletes’ Villages as well as the alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and ice sledge hockey venues have opened. The workshops are operated by Ottobock HealthCare, the Official Technical Service Provider for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. Ottobock, celebrating 25 years of Paralympic partnership, is responsible for the repair and maintenance of equipment essential to the performances of competing athletes.

In the last crucial days before the competition begins, athletes arriving in Sochi are expected to visit the workshops to have their equipment seen by Ottobock’s 28-strong teams of technicians, as part of final essential competition preparations. National flag bearers also had specially prepared flag holders attached to wheelchairs to enable them to lead out their teams in the Opening Ceremony on Friday (7 March).

“As a partner to the Paralympic Games since 1988 we have witnessed the growth of the Paralympic Movement from its very beginning. With awareness now at record levels and television audiences worldwide we understand the pressure on athletes to perform and their need for reliable and experienced technical service,” Professor Hans Georg Nader, Ottobock HealthCare President and CEO, said.

For the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games we have once again gathered a global team of the best technicians in their field. They will be dedicated to taking care of equipment repair and maintenance so that the athletes can focus on their competition.”

Equipped with specialist machinery and 11,000 spare parts, the technical service team is expecting the largest demand for repairs and servicing to come from the ice sledge hockey competition. Specialist welders are part of the Ottobock Technical Service Team to repair equipment damage from this high-intensity sport.

In total, Ottobock is preparing to conduct hundreds of repairs and deliver approximate 3,000 working hours to serve the approximately 600 competing Paralympians and their support teams from 47 nations.

“Over 25 years of partnership Ottobock has grown into one of the Paralympic Movement’s most loyal and reliable partners,” Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said.

Trusted by athletes from around the world to repair and maintain their equipment when it matters most, the level of technical expertise and efficiency in operating workshops provided by Ottobock is now a requisite for the smooth running and success of the Paralympic Games.”