27 March 2009

Aviva, the team behind UK Athletics since 1999, will unveil their 4 year sponsorship of the Home Country Schools Championships for both track and field and cross country championships until 2012, on Saturday 28 March at the SIAB International Match in Bangor, North Wales.

This sponsorship underlines Aviva’s commitment to the sport from playground to podium, as part of the new UKA grassroots athletics framework. Aviva is committed to ensuring that every child in the UK gets the opportunity to participate in athletics, whilst creating a long-term legacy for the sport and unearthing more champions along the way.

Many of the current Aviva GB & NI team have fond memories of competing at Home Country Schools Championships including Paula Radcliffe, Mo Farah, Mark Lewis-Francis, and Goldie Sayers.

Mo Farah, new British Indoor 3,000m record holdersaid: “Competing for my school at the English School Cross Country was my first step into competitive athletics on a journey that has taken me to International Championships all around the world.  The English Schools was a big thing for me, as a young athlete it gave me a real target for the year and helped me ultimately choose athletics over football.

“In my first year as a junior, I just missed out on selection for the Home Country Schools Match, by one place and I was so disappointed. The Home Country Schools International provides a great stepping stone to bigger things.”

Matt Newman, Chief Executive of Welsh Athletics said:

“The announcement of this four year sponsorship of schools athletics by Aviva is great news for the sport and will provide a significant contribution to athletics in Wales, so we would like to thank Aviva and UKA for this valuable investment. In particular, I am delighted that the Heritage Minister for the Welsh Assembly Government, Alun Ffred Jones is joining us on Saturday to celebrate this sponsorship and start the first race at the magnificent Faenol Estate.”

David Littlewood, Hon Secretary of the English Schools AA said:

“The English Schools Athletics Association is delighted to be part of this major sponsorship deal with Aviva, which extends their existing sponsorship of athletics to the vital area of schools athletics for the first time. We really look forward to developing a close working relationship with Aviva over the next four years.”

 
Tanya Veingard, Head of Sponsorship, Aviva, said:

 “Our investment in the Home Country Schools Championships is the latest contribution to our commitment of giving every child in the UK the opportunity to get involved in athletics.  As the team behind UK Athletics, Aviva is making it easier for athletes of today and tomorrow to reach their sporting goals. The Aviva Home Country Schools Championships gives young athletes the chance to measure their performance against their peers and gives them the opportunity to earn a National “Vest” for the very first time. We look forward to sharing the successes of our future stars.”