IPC Boosted by Allianz Renewal and Perform Broadcast Deal

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) was boosted by two new agreements yesterday, June 16, including the renewal of its partnership with financial services provider Allianz.

Allianz has extended its commitment to the body having been a ‘gold patron’ of the IPC for five years, but the latest agreement will see the company become the IPC’s first ever ‘international partner’.

The terms of the two-year renewal also includes six further partnerships with National Paralympic Committees. In addition to its support of the German and Portuguese National Paralympic Committees, Allianz has become a “national supporter” of Australia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ireland, Switzerland and Turkey.

Sir Philip Craven, the IPC’s President, said: “For the past five years, the IPC and Allianz have grown together through a mutually beneficial partnership.

“They are an extremely active and loyal partner who continues to contribute towards the aims of the Paralympic Movement. We are delighted that they are extending their involvement with the IPC.”

As part of its Paralympic partnership, Allianz actively promotes the Paralympic Movement and aims to reduce social stigmas around disability and sports.

Joseph K. Gross, head of group market management at Allianz SE, stated: “Allianz sees Paralympic athletes as role models for true motivation and as the most credible personalities to give advice on managing personal crisis. Athletes help us understand our customers’ needs even better by seeing how sport helps people master their personal challenges.”

In other news, the IPC appointed leading digital media company Perform as the host broadcaster for July’s 2011 IPC Swimming European Championships in Berlin, Germany.

Under the terms of the agreement, Perform will produce a high quality HD television signal for international distribution using up to eight HD cameras, including a 50m track camera, three underwater cameras and a slow motion camera. They will also provide a live stream of the event for the IPC’s official online TV channel ParalympicSport.TV.

The broadcaster will also produce a daily 26 minutes long highlights programme of the Championships, which will be distributed to interested broadcasters via BT Tower in London.

IPC CEO Xavier Gonzalez said: “We are very pleased that with Perform’s support we are in the position to offer to broadcasters a high level broadcast quality coverage of these Championships .Perform have a track record of broadcasting global sports events to huge audiences and we believe by working with them we will take our coverage to a new level.

“In fact the coverage from Berlin will be to the same standards as during the Paralympic Games and will further support our goal of raising the awareness of Paralympic Sport and our athletes ahead of London 2012.”

Perform Joint-CEO Oliver Slipper added: ”We’re delighted to be working with the IPC. In the run up to the 2012 Paralympics there is a tremendous amount of interest in these games and the athletes and we’re proud to be broadcasting them to the world.”