23 Jan 2008 | Ref. 022/2008
London, United Kingdom: A major partnership between British sport and BAE Systems was announced today to help British athletes in their quest for medals at World and European Championships as well as future Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A five-year technology partnership has been agreed with UK Sport, the nation’s high-performance sports agency that invests in and supports Britain’s brightest medal hopes.
BAE Systems will provide expertise in structural and mechanical engineering, aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, mathematical modelling and simulation, human factors and materials science to some of Britain’s major medal winning sports. Projects that focus on cycling, sailing, canoeing, rowing and bob skeleton have already been identified to help sporting heroes such as Chris Hoy, Ben Ainslie and Shelley Rudman achieve further success. The partnership will also support a number of Paralympic disciplines, with opportunities to help medal winners in the likes of wheelchair basketball, disability athletics and disability swimming.
The deal is a value-in-kind activity brokered by UK Sport, with BAE Systems’ expertise channelled directly into the areas of sports development where it is needed most. While it is worth approximately £1.5m in engineering time, the real value is the ability to tap into the considerable knowledge and expertise of BAE Systems’ 18,000 UK-based engineers. The partnership is similar to a technology relationship BAE Systems has shared with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One Team for over ten years.
Speaking at the launch of the programme in London, Dick Olver, Chairman of BAE Systems, said: “BAE Systems and its heritage companies have been responsible for many of the technological breakthroughs of the last century and before. Our partnership with UK Sport demonstrates the vital role that engineering plays in every aspect of day-to-day life and allows us to share our expertise to
benefit the sporting heroes of today and tomorrow.
“As the largest employer of engineers in the UK, we are committed to maintaining and strengthening Britain’s skilled workforce and this technology partnership will harness the skills of BAE Systems’ employees across Britain.”
UK Sport Chief Executive John Steele added: “This deal represents a terrific opportunity for some of our best medal prospects and I am delighted that UK Sport has been able to bring it together. BAE Systems is recognised as one of the world’s most innovative companies and its commitment to helping sport in this way is fantastic.
“It is also needed, as the margins between success and failure on the world stage get ever smaller. In Athens in 2004 Chris Hoy won his Olympic cycling gold medal by 0.185 seconds, while the coxless four succeeded in the rowing by just 0.08 seconds. There is no doubt whatsoever that the equipment they used helped them in their endeavours, and it is these fractional margins of victory we are looking to help secure for the future.”
BAE Systems’ Technology & Engineering Services business in Bristol will act as a broker for requests from UK Sport and ‘match’ them with engineering capabilities and skills throughout the UK business.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 96,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15 billion (US $27 billion) in 2006*.
*On a pro rata basis, assuming BAE Systems had owned Armor Holdings Inc for the whole of 2006
About UK Sport
UK Sport is the Government agency responsible for investing in and supporting our Olympic and Paralympic sports and athletes. It currently invests around £100 million a year in the World Class Performance Programme, supporting 1,400 athletes across 24 Olympic and 20 Paralympic sports. It underpins this investment through providing dedicated services to sports and athletes, such as Elite Coach, Talent ID, Performance Lifestyle and Research & Innovation. UK Sport also operates as the National Anti-Doping Organisation, and is the lead agency for international sporting issues.
For further information, please contact:
Kate Watcham, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 383550 Mob: + 44 (0) 7793 420731
kate.watcham@baesystems.com
John Neilson, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384795 Mob: + 44 (0) 7802) 337704
john.neilson@baesystems.com
Tim Hollingsworth, UK Sport
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7211 5144 Mob: + 44 (0) 7802 574647
tim.hollingsworth@uksport.gov.uk
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
www.baesystems.com
