 Photographer: ITF
Date: 02 Nov 2009 |  Photographer: None / Not Applicable
Date: 07 Apr 2009 | | | | |
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| 02 Nov 2009 | |
| BNP Paribas supports ITF wheelchair distribution programme |
BNP Paribas presented 60 wheelchairs to the Turkish Sports Federation for Disabled People at last month’s Antalya Open wheelchair event to become the first company to support the ITF’s partnership with the UK-based charity Motivation UK.
Motivation UK’s Worldmade project is a global programme designed to help organisations establish or upgrade wheelchair service provision through the supply of appropriate mobility products and training of wheelchair service personnel. The ITF wheelchair department has been working closely with Motivation UK Worldmade on the production of simple but quality sport wheelchairs for a fraction of the normal costs involved.
The ITF is looking to help developing countries fund these wheelchairs through companies who want to get involved in corporate social responsibility activities. BNP is the first company to support the programme through its donation to the Turkish Federation, with the ceremony taking place on court before the finals of the 2009 Antalya Open.
Mark Bullock, ITF Manager of Wheelchair Tennis, said: “Such a donation will impact heavily on the development of wheelchair tennis in Turkey and help increase participation across the country, particularly in areas without activity or the resources to compete. Access to sports wheelchairs remains the biggest limiting factor for participation, and donations such as this from one of tennis’s biggest supporters are of huge value and contribute significantly to the ITF reaching its development goals.”
Fahir Altan of the Turkish Sports Federation for the Physically Disabled, added: “We are absolutely delighted to receive the donation of wheelchairs from BNP Paribas. The general perception for sport for the physically disabled is developing in Turkey, but the funding of equipment and facilities is still a major issue. With new sport equipment for our wheelchair tennis athletes we hope that we can inspire even more wheelchair users to start playing tennis.”
Since 1993, BNP Paribas has been committed to promoting wheelchair tennis in France by supporting events such as the ‘BNP Paribas Open de France Handisport’.
In 2009, BNP Paribas became an International Sponsor of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour. For three years, the Group will also actively support the Invacare World Team Cup, the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Singles Masters, the Camozzi Doubles Masters as well as six other NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour events.
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