Technology boost to GBR

UK Sport has signed a deal with BAE Systems

Britain’s medal-chasing sailors are among the top talent in the country set to benefit from a new partnership to help British sportsmen and women in their quest for glory.

UK Sport, Britain’s leading high performance investors, has teamed up with global engineering company BAE Systems to provide innovative, cutting-edge technological support to GBR’s medal-winning sports over five years.

The partnership will give Britain’s World, European and Olympic medal hopefuls of today and tomorrow an unprecedented chance to tap into the knowledge and expertise of BAE Systems' 18,000 UK-based engineers in such areas as aerodynamics, hydrodynamics and structural and mechanical engineering.

Britain’s sailors have already enjoyed the benefit of BAE’s expert assistance in the past, most notably with the company helping to develop the mast for the Finn dinghy that Iain Percy sailed to Olympic gold in Sydney 2000.

And Stephen Park, RYA Olympic Manager, hopes that sailing’s relationship with BAE Systems can be boosted even further through the new UK Sport partnership.

Park said: “The sport of sailing continues to utilise technology to maximise medal winning opportunities, both in terms of on and off the field of play developments.

“Working in partnership with UK Sport and BAE Systems will give us access to World Class minds and technologies that Skandia Team GBR otherwise simply could not afford to get involved with.

“I am sure this relationship will directly impact on medals in 2012, and possibly even as quickly as 2008, or 2010 for the winter sports.”

The other Olympic and Paralympic disciplines set to benefit directly from the new link-up are cycling, canoeing, rowing and bob skeleton.

UK Sport Chief Executive, John Steele, added: “This deal represents a terrific opportunity for some of our best medal prospects and I am delighted that UK Sport has been able to bring it together.

“BAE Systems is recognised as one of the world's most innovative companies and its commitment to helping sport in this way is fantastic as the margins between success and failure on the world stage get ever smaller.”