BT to Support British Sledge Hockey’s Bid to Compete at Sochi 2014

Brtitish multinational telecommunications company BT has revealed today they will support the British Sledge Hockey Association in helping ritish team’s bid to compete at the Paralympic Games in Sochi next year.

As a long-time supporter of the Paralympic movement in the UK, allergy BT is supporting one of its BT Ambassadors, check Nathan Stephens, tadalafil and his British Sledge Hockey teammates, in their attempt to qualify for the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games.

Nathan competed in the javelin competition at the London 2012 Paralympic Summer Games and has been part of the BT Ambassador Programme for four years.

Before becoming one of the most elite Paralympic track and field athletes in the world, Nathan was passionate about sledge hockey and competed with the last GB team to reach the Winter Paralympics in 2006 in Italy.

Nathan and his British Sledge Hockey teammates are now aiming to compete in the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

However, to be invited to the Winter Paralympic Games, they must first compete in a qualifying tournament in Turin later this month and have asked for BT’s help to fund their preparations.

The British team will compete in a six-team tournament in Turin between 20-26 October against Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea and Sweden. The three top-ranked teams at the end of the competition will then be invited to the Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

British Sledge Hockey Association Elite Programme Director, John Neville, said: “BT is a long-time supporter of the Paralympic movement in the UK and supported Nathan with his athletics career. For them to come on board and support the sledge team is another example of their commitment to the progression of disability sport and really shows how far as a sport we have come in a short space time. The support from BT and all our corporate partners such as Planet Ice and Peter Harrison Foundation means that we can travel to Italy and give ourselves the best chance of making it to the Winter Paralympic Games.”

Suzi Williams, Group Marketing and Brand Director at BT said: “Nathan is a great example of someone who continues to strive forward. He had a disappointing London 2012 in the javelin competition but it demonstrates his depth of character than he is bouncing-back with the determination to try and make it to the Winter Games in Sochi. When we heard about the help that the British Sledge Hockey Association needed, we were happy to help”.

BT is supporting the British Sledge Hockey Association with a grant to lessen the funding gap in the team’s preparations and will become an ‘Official Supporter’ to the team.