Investec Sponsor Great Britain’s Women Hockey Team

Great Britain’s women field hockey team has signed a  five-year sponsorship contract with Investec Plc (INVP), a private bank and wealth manager.

Raymond van Niekerk, Investec’s global head of marketing, said in an e-mailed statement: “We began sponsoring the South African women’s team last year and have expanded our backing of the sport as it symbolizes commitment, enthusiasm, skill and personal development,”

The spnsorship agreement, which ranges from grassroots children’s hockey to national team level, starts at the European Championships, which will held be Aug. 20-28 in Moenchengladbach, Germany. No financial details were disclosed.

Investec, has operations in South Africa, the U.K. and Australia and has delved into numerous sports in sponsorship deals, ranging from horse racing, rugby and motor racing to cultural events such as concerts.

Hockey is one of original and most historical Olympic sports, having made its first appearance at the 1908 London Games. Although it’s been part of the Olympic program since the 1920 Antwerp Games, women didn’t play on an Olympic level until Moscow in 1980,

The British women’s hockey team finished sixth at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Last year, the team took bronze in three major events: the World Cup, the Commonwealth Games and the Champions Trophy. Next year London hosts the summer Olympic Games.