(Sir John Ritblat)
Just days before the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, London legacy leaders Delancey announced they are to provide British Ski and Snowboard with the platform for the current Games but also future World Championship and 2018 Olympic success.
Delancey - a specialist real estate investment advisory business - have signed a ski and snowboard wide sponsorship agreement which will see Delancey extend their current sponsorship, currently limited to the British Alpine Ski Team, to becoming the Headline Sponsor for British Ski and Snowboard.
The deal encompasses funding for all teams, including Alpine, Snowboard, Freestyle and Cross Country. This extended commitment to the future of British snowsports will give British Ski and Snowboard's elite athletes funding until May 2016.
Delancey's investment will support the training and development programmes for upcoming and established British athletes. It will be vital for those working towards the 2014 Games and will also reach younger stars, giving them the opportunity to pursue their passion via the provision of facilities and training in the UK and internationally.
The headline sponsorship comes in addition to Delancey's title sponsorship of the Delancey British National Alpine Championships in Meribel this spring.
"With exciting young talent to watch at the upcoming Olympics, such as Sheffield born James Woods who honed his skills on a local dry ski slope, and new prime-time TV shows such as 'The Jump', snowports have become more popular than ever before," said Jamie Ritblat, Delancey's Founder and CEO, "However, if we are to inspire and create success internationally, we need to provide the financial resources to do that."
"Delancey is delighted to be able to help not only young people, who have demonstrated their potential, but also those whose international pedigree is already evident, backing them in training and competition at world-class level," added Sir John Ritblat, Chairman of Delancey's Advisory Board and a long term supporter of British snowsports has also been involved with British skiing for over 36 years and was last year appointed President of British Ski and Snowboard (BSS), "I am thrilled to be able to provide the support they so readily deserve from a young age, and to ensure Team GB continues to be a leading force in winter sports."
"Delancey's support, provided through the generosity of Jamie, and Sir John, during the last four years has been invaluable," said BSS Chief Executive Dave Edwards, "This new, exciting, arrangement will enable us to continue the work that we have started and will help us to create an even stronger team of athletes who can win multiple medals in Korea in 2018 and win World Cup and World Championship medals on their way there." teambss.org.uk