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Athletics

Bumper sponsor deal to boost UK Athletics

05/04/2006

British athletes have been given a major helping hand today with the news that Norwich Union and UK Athletics have agreed one of the most lucrative sponsorship deals in sport in Britain.

The deal, commencing on January 1st next year, will be worth approximately £50 million to athletics over the next six years and will run up until 2012, just after the London Olympic Games.

One of the key components of the deal will see central contracts introduced to ensure Great Britain representatives will be strictly accountable for their performances.

This long-sought after arrangement will see substantial funding provided for elite coaches, special research projects and top-up packages, or bonuses, for leading athletes.

UK Athletics has said the landmark deal will focus on junior mentoring, on grassroots sports and investment in teacher training.

But most importantly, the deal aims to further help Great Britain produce world-class athletes for when the Games comes to London in six years time.

"The current crop of very talented juniors is testament to the long-term foundations provided at the grassroots level and due to Norwich Union's long-term commitment announced today, the sport will be able to build on this platform by boosting participation, increasing the talent pool and preparing future champions to reach our medal targets in 2008 and 2012," David Moorcroft, chief executive of UK Athletics, said.

Commonwealth decathlon champion Dean Macey also praised Norwich Union and UK Athletics for reaching the agreement and voiced his belief that benefits will be seen on the track and in other Olympic events.

"For any elite athlete Norwich Union's continued and increased support for athletics means that the British team will be able to receive the best possible preparation support for major championships and athletes like myself will have an excellent programme of domestic meetings to check our progress against the best in the world on home soil," he added.

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