Sports News: British Winter Sports turns up the Heat
Twelve of Britain’s Winter Sport’s disciplines have joined forces to form the all new British Winter Sports Group. The move will generate additional funding from sponsors to improve Britain’s individual and team performances at international and national competitions.
The rights will be marketed by the sports sponsorship specialist The Wahoo, whose founders are Nigel Jones and Omar Khan. Omar Khan, Director at The Wahoo, says: “The combined power of the new group, which includes the Olympic disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Bob Skeleton, Cross Country Skiing, Curling, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Ice Hockey, Luge, Short Track Speed Skating and Snowboarding will enable the sports to employ the highest quality coaches and identify and support the best athletes.”
With over two million UK residents participating in skiing on a regular basis and over 10 million visits per year to the UK’s 64 ice rinks British winter sport is in a great position to build on its success to date.
Lord Moynihan, Chairman of the British Olympic Association, says: “This is an innovative project, and it's one I welcome. The British Winter Sports Group offers an excellent opportunity for sponsors to get involved with all our winter sport disciplines at a time when we're enjoying some notable success. Britain currently has World Champions in both men’s curling and the women’s bobsleigh and there have been some outstanding performances in women’s snowboard cross and curling, women’s and men’s skeleton and the men’s short track speed skating. Winter sports are a crucial part of the British sporting landscape."
As a non-Alpine nation, Britain has done well to date achieving winter sports medals at World and European level and the Olympic Winter Games and is currently experiencing much success with recent golds in the Bobsleigh World Championships and bronze in both the European Championships for Figure Skating and Ice Hockey.
The history of British winter sports is packed with emotive memories. Who can forget the champions including: golds in ice skating for John Curry, Robin Cousins and Torvill & Dean; gold in curling for Rhona Martin; and silver in bob skeleton for Shelley Rudman at the last Olympic Winter Games at Turin 2006.
Sponsorship Packages
The British Winter Sports Group is seeking one overall sponsor for a five-year deal from 2010 to 2014 as well as official supporters and suppliers.
David Cranston CBE, Chairman of the British Winter Sports Group, says:
“Sponsorship of winter sports offers good value for money when compared to other sports offering an excellent return on any investment making a demonstrable difference to Britain’s success on the world stage.”
“The benefits are huge, for example skiing has a database of over 150,000 skiers in the UK offering an ideal direct marketing opportunity for companies.”
National Winter Sports Annual Event
The British Winter Sports Group is planning a number of new initiatives including a new National Winter Sports Challenge bringing together all the Winter Sports under one roof. The event will feature winter sports stars and development programme athletes of all ages who will compete against each other in a winter sports spectacular. The first event is planned at SnOasis, the new winter sports centre in Suffolk. Winter Sports In Schools Plans are also under way from 2010 for an education programme targeting all key stages with winter sports activities linked to the National Curriculum. The programme will include competitions to win trips to Championships and lessons in ice skating, skiing, curling, bobsleigh, luge, ice hockey, biathlon and snowboarding. A roadshow will tour schools promoting Winter Sports bringing the sports alive in the classroom.
Article originally featured on The Wire - Sponsorship News Bulletin and www.themeetingroom.org.uk