P&G Named Official Nearest & Dearest Supporter of ParalympicsGB

The British Paralympic Association (BPA) have announced that global consumer goods company Procter & Gamble (P&G) will be ParalympicsGB’s Official Nearest and Dearest Supporter for the upcoming Winter Games, sale once again providing backing for the Nearest and Dearest programme.

The Nearest and Dearest programme provides information and support for close relatives of each ParalympicsGB team member in the build-up to and during the Games. P&G’s support for family and friends of British team members at the Winter Paralympics follows on from their successful London 2012 partnership with the BPA.

Amongst the benefits to Nearest and Dearest will be an invitation to the Deloitte ParalympicsGB Team Launch, a two-day event for all team members. For the first time Nearest and Dearest will be invited to join their athlete at the event, which will include a celebratory dinner and a series of workshops to provide information about what close relatives can expect in Sochi. There will also be a dedicated website, which will provide news and regular updates to relatives.

Chef de Mission, Penny Briscoe said:“Athletes are some of the first people to acknowledge the crucial role that their family and friends play in their development and ultimately in their success. We know and understand how important it is to athletes and family alike that the people close to them can be present when the athlete is preparing and competing at a Games, and that’s why we at the BPA feel so strongly that the Nearest and Dearest programme is crucial to get right. As Chef de Mission, I am excited to see that P&G’s backing will enable the BPA to provide world-class support, not just for the athletes, but also for their network of Nearest and Dearest as we all prepare for Sochi 2014.”

Irwin Lee, Managing Director of Procter & Gamble UK, added: ”As a company we are delighted to have the opportunity to continue to support the ParalympicsGB Nearest & Dearest programme during the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.  We recognise how important it is for the Paralympic athletes to know that their friends and families are supported in this way, so that they can focus on what they do best.  This is our way to keep thanking mums, including those of ParalympicsGB’s athletes.”

The agreement was welcomed by BPA Chief Executive Tim Hollingsworth, who said: “P&G were an excellent partner for the BPA during the London programme and I am delighted that they have decided to continue their valuable work with our Nearest and Dearest for Sochi.

“The BPA is in a good position now in relation to its partnerships but we are always looking for additional partners who can enable us to provide extra support and resource to ParalympicsGB for the Games, and so I am very pleased to welcome back on board P&G’s experience in this area from London 2012.”