Athletes call for support from Welsh businesses

With just under 1,000 days to go until the start of the London 2012 Olympics, the nation's elite sportsmen and women are calling for support from businesses across Wales in the lead up to Christmas to help them achieve their sporting goals.

Wales’s elite athletes in conjunction with The British Athletes Commission (BAC) are asking for those businesses that are thinking of rewarding its own star performers this Christmas to do so through its Athlete Reward package that raises money to help athletes and sporting programmes to deliver sporting success.

Team Business South Wales was launched earlier this year to provide businesses with a unique way of supporting Wales’ medal hopefuls including gold medal winning cyclist Nicole Cooke and  silver medal winning swimmer David Davies and accompanying them on their journey to the games.

For £25 per employee, businesses can reward their staff with over £17,000 worth of restaurant, tourism, leisure and retail offers across Wales. Each employee would receive a copy of the a Wales Invitation Book, plus additional Loyalty Cards, on-line and mobile phone offers. The businesses receive regular updates on the athletes’ progress for use in internal or external literature.

Pete Gardner, chief executive of BAC, said: “If you were one of the many workplaces enthralled and excited by last summer’s medal rush and cannot wait for the big event in three years time, we’re offering you a unique way of supporting Wales’ medal hopefuls and rewarding your staff at the same time.

“Over the next three years, the country’s elite athletes will be embarking on a sporting journey of a lifetime and this is an opportunity to link your company, your staff and your customers with our athletes.

 “By purchasing a copy of the Invitation Book, your staff can save hundreds of pounds going out in the area and in a number of retail outlets which will be a welcome relief in the lead up to Christmas particularly in light of the current economic situation, and raise funds that will help Wales’ athletes achieve their sporting goals.”

The books will also provide a welcome boost to the Welsh economy which is why the South Wales Chamber of Commerce has pledged its support. David Russ, managing director of the South Wales Chamber of Commerce, said: “Arming employees with these books will encourage them to spend more money in the region. The total offers give the book greater potential expenditure than would be stimulated by £25 for cash and gift vouchers. Commentators on the current economic climate have pointed to the need to get activity across all sectors which will generate business recovery. 

"The book also provides the 400 plus retail, tourism and leisure businesses a free marketing platform free of charge and encourages tourism in the region. All in all this is a positive initiative which is why we are pledging our full support.”
For more information visit www.invitationbook.co.uk/bac  

For further information on this press release, please contact freshbaked PR at pr@freshbaked.co.uk. freshbaked PR is a Cardiff based public relations agency which represents a number of private and public sector organisations in the Cardiff, Swansea and Bristol business communities, as well as Newport in south Wales, home of golf’s 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort Hotel. For clients based in Cardiff PR agency services are provided from the Head Office in The Maltings.