POSTED: Tuesday December 16th 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Top German Companies Extend Paralympic Involvement

Allianz SE and Deutsche Telekom AG

Bonn, Germany - Today, Allianz SE and Deutsche Telekom AG announced the
extension of their involvement in the Paralympic Movement and its
athletes.



Invited by Prof. Dr. Horst Koehler, President of the Federal Republic
of Germany, Dr. Gerhard Rupprecht, Member of the Executive Board
Allianz SE, Dr. Karl-Gerhard Eick, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy
Chairperson Deutsche Telekom AG, as well as Miguel Sagarra,
Vice-President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and
Karl-Hermann Haack, President of the German National Paralympic
Committee (NPC), met at the Villa Hammerschmidt - the second official
residence of the President - in Bonn, Germany, to commemorate this
occasion.



In 2006, Allianz SE, Deutsche Telekom AG and IPC have agreed to join
forces to promote the growth and impact of the global Paralympic
Movement, thus using the power of top-performance sports as a platform
to promote the rights of persons with a disability to be full and
active members of society. The companies will continue to be a Gold
Patron of the IPC, providing it with crucial financial and promotional
support that will allow the IPC to fulfill its mission.



Said Mr. Sagarra: “The extension that these companies have agreed to
indicates their ongoing support towards the Paralympic Movement. The
close collaboration helps the IPC to bring forward the Paralympic
Movement and to spread the Paralympic values of determination, courage,
inspiration and equality.”



The agreement between Allianz, Deutsche Telekom and IPC includes
sustainable support of the Paralympic Movement. In a separate agreement
with the NPC of Germany, both companies also agreed on a financial
contribution to athletes of the \‘German Paralympics Top Team’ for their
preparation for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.



Dr. Eick, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chairman Deutsche Telekom
AG, emphasized: “In order to achieve the highest level of performance,
athletes need to have ambition, professionalism, and a good team as a
foundation. These characteristics can also contribute to a successful
entrepreneur. We therefore see the athletes as role models who we
strongly support.”



Within the framework of the agreement, Allianz SE and Deutsche Telekom
AG will be involved in the International Paralympic Day (IPD) in 2009.
The IPD is a multi-sport event comprising exhibitions of various
Paralympic sports. Throughout the day, different sports will be
represented through Paralympic athletes and the spectators are
encouraged to make their own Paralympic experience through try-outs.
The 2009 edition of the IPD will again be hosted by the City of Berlin
and take place in July around the Brandenburg Gate.



“We want to encourage more people with a disability to participate in
sport, so that it ultimately contributes to a stronger integration for
people with a disability. And at the same time, the athletes are seen
as sports and business role models, which further emphasizes their
significance,” added Dr. Rupprecht, Executive Board Member Allianz SE.



__________





Notes to the Editors:



The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing
body of the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Summer and
Winter Paralympic Games, and serves as the International Federation for
nine sports, for which it supervises and co-ordinates the World
Championships and other competitions. The IPC is committed to enabling
Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to developing
sport opportunities for all persons with a disability from the beginner
to elite level. In addition, the IPC aims to promote the Paralympic
values, which include courage, determination, inspiration and equality.



Founded on 22 September 1989, the IPC is an international non-profit
organization formed and run by over 160 National Paralympic Committees
(NPCs) from five regions and four disability specific international
sports federations (IOSDs). The IPC Headquarters and its management
team are located in Bonn, Germany.

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Keywords · Paralympics · IPC · Allianz SE · Deutsche Telekom AG

Name: Steffi Klein
Organization: International Paralympic Committee
Email:
Phone: +49-228-2097-200
URL: http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/index.html

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