Allianz becomes first global partner of IPC Athletics

IPC Athletics, the International Federation for para-athletics of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and financial services company Allianz SE, have signed a 12-month partnership agreement to become the sport's first official global partner. Together, Allianz and IPC Athletics will develop joint programmes and digital assets to help raise the profile of both the sport and its athletes. In addition, Allianz will support three IPC Athletics Grand Prix events this year and August's European Championships.

Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: "We are delighted that Allianz, a very trusted friend and partner of the Paralympic Movement, has become IPC Athletics' first official global partner. Allianz has a strong and exemplary track record for creating engaging awareness campaigns that help to raise the profile of para-sport and leading athletes, and I am confident this partnership will help do the same for para-athletics.

"Following the success of London 2012, IPC Athletics launched a number of initiatives and competitions designed to get more people practicing the sport at the grassroots, whilst at the same time increasing the number of high level competition opportunities for leading athletes.

"The IPC Athletics Grand Prix and Marathon World Cup have been great successes since their introduction and, with Allianz supporting the sport, they have the potential to be even better in future years."

"Allianz and the IPC have a long tradition in partnership," says Werner Zedelius, Member of the Board of Management of Allianz SE and long-time para-sport enthusiast.

"The new partnership with IPC Athletics underlines our engagement for para-sport and our ambition to give people the opportunity to show their excellence.

"We regularly invite athletes to Allianz to share their experience. Para-athletes inspire our employees and customers with their motivation and their ability to overcome barriers."

The new partnership with IPC Athletics extends Allianz's support of the Paralympic Movement which dates back to 2006. As well as global involvement, nine Allianz companies support National Paralympic Committees in Australia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and Ukraine. During this long-standing and mutually beneficial co-operation, Allianz has helped to foster public awareness and generate a greater interest in para-sport in general.

IPC Athletics events in 2014

This year's IPC Athletics Grand Prix features nine events in five continents. The first event took place in February in Dubai, UAE and, by the time the final takes place in late August in Birmingham, Great Britain, events will have taken place in Beijing, China; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Arizona, USA; Nottwil, Switzerland; Grosseto, Italy; Tunis, Tunisia and Berlin, Germany.

Allianz will support three Grand Prix events starting in Nottwil, Switzerland (16-18 May), then Grosseto, Italy (30 May- 1 June) and finally Berlin, Germany (20-22 June).

August's IPC Athletics European Championships in Swansea, Great Britain, is set to be the highlight of the year and will attract around 600 athletes from 40 countries to the biggest para-athletics event to be held in Great Britain since the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The event will take place from 18-23 August. Allianz will be one of the main partners at Swansea 2014.

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Notes to the Editor

For further information, please contact Lucy Dominy, IPC Public Relations and Campaigns Manager on e-mail: lucy.dominy@paralympic.org or call +49-228-2097-159.

IPC Athletics

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement, and also acts as the International Federation for nine sports, including athletics.

The sport is governed by the IPC and co-ordinated by the IPC Athletics Sports Technical Committee, offering a wide range of competitions and events for male and female athletes in all impairment groups.

For further information, please visit www.paralympic.org/athletics, www.twitter.com/IPCAthletics, www.facebook.com/IPCAthletics or www.ParalympicSport.TV.

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