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Today the British Olympic Association (BOA) announced that five further partnerships have joined the FTSE-BOA Initiative. Each participating major British company will provide skills and knowledge transfer to a particular National Governing Body of Olympic Sport (NGB) in order to accelerate their organisational development. The Initiative aims to guarantee long term partnerships, sustainable and autonomous NGBs and as a result a strong sporting legacy in the UK. Each company benefits through internal staff development and motivation.
Ten partnerships have already been announced and five further NGBs and FTSE companies have now formally agreed to form partnerships. They are:
archery - Standard Life Investments
ice skating – Experian
modern pentathlon – Marks & Spencer
sailing - Accenture
taekwondo - O2
The Grand National Archery Society (GNAS) has entered into a partnership with Standard Life Investments, which will start by supporting GNAS as it develops its administration effectively and efficiently as the sport grows.
The National Ice Skating Association (NISA) has entered into a partnership with Experian, one of Nottingham's largest employers, to cover a range of projects over time, particularly in the areas of organisational development and marketing.
The Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain (MPAGB) has established a partnership with Marks and Spencer, which is developing strongly. A number of areas are being addressed, including long-term business planning and branding advice.
The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has chosen to build on their existing sponsorship arrangement with Accenture, to develop a partnership whose initial focus will be a strategy consulting project to help the RYA to define its long-term future.
The British Taekwondo Control Board (BTCB) is delighted to be partnering with O2 and the initial focus of work together will be around taekwondo’s marketing and communications plan.
Astra Zeneca is also supporting the FTSE-BOA Initiative via the secondment of Bev Salt, a Vice President with extensive general management and commercial experience, to lead the initiative for the BOA.
Said BOA Chairman Colin Moynihan:
“As a unique programme worldwide, I am delighted that the Initiative is continuing to reap benefits for national governing bodies and the major companies already partnered. I continue to believe that sport and business can learn from each other and that ultimately our goals are the same: performing to the highest possible level. It therefore makes perfect sense for the best of both worlds to partner each other.”
Speaking about the initiative Mark Makepeace, Chief Executive of FTSE Group:
"FTSE is traditionally known for reflecting market performance through financial indices, so it's an interesting and rewarding change of direction to be involved with sporting performance, through the FTSE-BOA Initiative. Teaming the best of British sports with the best of British business is an innovative project, which will lead to enhanced performance for both the sporting bodies and the businesses involved in the Initiative."
Commented Bev Salt:
“Our aim is to have partnered all 33 sports in 2008 and I am confident that we will be able to reach this goal as the interest and enthusiasm which I have received from the major British companies is fantastic. There are already a number of further partnerships which are close to conclusion and will be announced in the near future.”
