British Gas joins ParalympicsGB and Team GB to power athletes and their communities in the lead up to Paris 2024

ParalympicsGB, the British Olympic Association and British Gas has today announced a new five-year partnership agreement up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As the Official Energy Services Partner, British Gas will power ParalympicsGB and Team GB ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games respectively, providing critical support to both organisations as they make their final preparations for next year’s events and beyond.

With less than a year to go until the Olympic and Paralympic Games returns to Europe, as well as directly supporting the athletes’ endeavours, the partnership is aimed at empowering young people and athletes to make a positive difference for themselves and their local communities.

To kickstart the partnership, an exciting schools programme, Get Set for Positive Energy will aim to reach up to 1 million young people and families across the UK. ParalympicsGB and Team GB’s Get Set was originally created as the official education programme for London 2012 and now offers a broad range of free, cross-curricular resources and activities for schools and community groups across the nation.

The free programme, which has been designed by educational experts, harnesses the collective power of ParalympicsGB, Team GB and British Gas to empower young people and their communities in the role we can all play in saving energy and creating a greener future. It seeks to inspire primary school children to use their positive energy to drive change and build healthy habits for the future.

With a requirement for schools to have a climate action plan in place by 2025 the programme will support teachers in providing a range of free learning resources, that can easily be adopted as part of a wider green educational plan.

Primary school children in the UK will also have the chance to take part in a special challenge in 2024, where they can put their learning to the test by re-designing their school environment to be more sustainable.

To launch the partnership, Paralympian Jack Hunter-Spivey and Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson, surprised pupils at her former primary school in Liverpool, St Mark’s Catholic School. The Liverpudlian athletes unveiled an inspiring mural as a visual reminder to the pupils about the contribution they can make in driving positive change and building a healthier, more sustainable future.

British Gas is also developing a ‘Pathways’ programme to support former athletes with important new career opportunities within the organisation. This programme offers a way for athletes to transfer the skills and disciplines they have developed in their athletic careers to new roles within the British Gas workforce.

Jack Hunter-Spivey, a ParalympicsGB table tennis bronze medallist from Tokyo 2020, commented: “The Get Set programme is incredible! Not only does it get children involved in sport whatever their ability, it will also enable them to become knowledgeable about the environment, setting them up with skills that will be of huge value to society in years to come. The mural is so inspiring, and it’s a pleasure to kick this initiative off in the great city of Liverpool!”

Katarina Johnson-Thompson, world champion heptathlete, said: “To be involved in Get Set for Positive Energy and return to my old school to help inspire the next generation is such an honour. The programme enables kids from across the UK to learn more about how we can be more energy efficient, which is naturally essential for a greener future, so I’m delighted to help play a small part by launching the partnership at my primary school, St Mark’s.”

David Clarke, CEO of ParalympicsGB, said: “With less than a year to go to Paris 2024 this partnership is a huge boost to our ambition of taking a best prepared team to the Paralympic Games to excite and inspire the nation and break down barriers for disabled people in the UK. It is a partnership with a critical wider purpose too, empowering people with the knowledge they need to move towards a more sustainable future through Get Set for Positive Energy and scoping a Pathways programme offering retired athletes’ valuable skills as they transition to a new career.”

Andy Anson, Chief Executive of the BOA, added: “It is great for Team GB to be working with a major national brand in British Gas. As well as direct support for our athletes in getting them to the Olympic Games, the full potential of this partnership will be realised through the support for local communities in the UK, as we recognise that we need to work together to help each other on our journey to a more sustainable future.”

Chris O’Shea, Chief Executive of British Gas owner Centrica, said: “Our 20,000 UK team is strong because of its diversity – of skills, experience and identities. We know we need an energised workforce to tackle the energy efficiency challenges all communities are facing as we make the transition to Net Zero. Every day our people help deliver solutions that make this journey possible and make a real difference to the local economies of towns and cities nationwide. We’re proud to sponsor two of the UK’s most inspiring teams – Team GB and ParalympicsGB – and if any of the athletes want to join us in the future, we will give them the opportunity to do so.”

ParalympicsGB is the UK’s largest disability sports charity and relies on the support of its commercial partners to deliver a world class environment where athletes can achieve their personal best performances and break down barriers for all disabled people.

As an entirely independently funded organisation, the British Olympic Association relies on the support of its commercial partners – such as British Gas – to fund its activities in taking Team GB athletes to both the summer and winter editions of the Olympic Games.