Latest news with #Paralympians
Tahya Masr
3 days ago
- Business
- Tahya Masr
Allianz Egypt Strengthens Strategic Partnership with the Egyptian Paralympic Committee to Empower National Champions and Elevate Their Global Presence
Allianz Egypt, a leading insurance provider and affiliate of the SanlamAllianz alliance, has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the Paralympic movement by extending its strategic partnership with the Egyptian Paralympic Committee until 2028, under the umbrella of Allianz Group's global alliance with the International Paralympic Committee. This renewed collaboration underscores Allianz Egypt's ongoing dedication to supporting and empowering Egyptian Paralympic athletes, while promoting the values of diversity and equality in sports. As part of its broader sustainability agenda, the company places Paralympic sports at the heart of its corporate social responsibility framework, reinforcing its role as a responsible investor and trusted partner dedicated to creating real value for society. Dr. Hossam El-Din Mostafa, Chairman of the Egyptian Paralympic Committee, commented: "Since the inception of our partnership with Allianz Egypt, we have witnessed genuine and impactful support, extending beyond sponsorship into strategic, long-term development. This collaboration has created an enabling sports ecosystem that allows our athletes to compete at the highest levels and elevate the profile of Paralympic sports in Egypt." Charles Tawadros, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz Egypt and Managing Director of Allianz Life Assurance Company – Egypt, added: 'We recognize the transformative power of sport in fostering inclusive and resilient communities. Our commitment is demonstrated through strategic partnerships with leading sports organizations both nationally and internationally. Our ongoing collaboration with the Egyptian Paralympic Committee exemplifies this dedication, playing a significant role in nurturing and empowering Egypt's Paralympic athletes'. He continued: 'As part of this partnership, Allianz Egypt proudly supports five Paralympians across key disciplines, including Para powerlifting, swimming, and badminton. Notable athletes like Sherif Osman and Fatma Mahrous, who secured silver medals at the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, highlight the success of our collective efforts. Beyond sponsorship, we're committed to providing the essential resources and a supportive environment that empower these athletes to train effectively and compete at the highest level'. Allianz Egypt remains committed to supporting athletes across all categories, extending its efforts to both Paralympic and Olympic athletes alike. In 2024, the company provided a personal accident insurance policy for the Egyptian Olympic delegation, offering comprehensive coverage that includes surgical procedures, physical therapy, and all sports-related injuries. This initiative reflects Allianz Egypt's leading role as a key sponsor of Paralympic sports in Egypt and reinforces its dedication to championing athletes at every level .
ITV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Ellie Simmonds 'My agonising decision to whether to have children'
For 15 years, Ellie Simmonds devoted her life to winning gold, becoming one of Britain's most celebrated Paralympians. Since retiring, she's turned her focus to deeply personal challenges - from reuniting with her birth mother in her BAFTA-winning documentary to now confronting one of the biggest decisions of her life: should she have children? As she explores the difficult dilemma of potentially passing on her disability, she's sharing her story.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Grimaldi, Robinson selected for world para champs
Anna Grimaldi. Holly Robinson. Dunedin Paralympians Anna Grimaldi and Holly Robinson are heading to India. They have been selected in an eight-strong New Zealand team to compete at the world para athletics championships in New Delhi - the first time the event will be held in India - from September 27 to October 5. Backing up from her remarkable Paralympic campaign, Grimaldi will stick to the track in the subcontinent, racing in the T47 200m and 100m, the events in which she won gold and bronze respectively in Paris. Robinson will compete in the F46 shot put in India. She won bronze in shot put in Paris last year and has since retired from javelin. The Dunedin pair add significant depth to a team boasting countless Paralympic and world championship medals. They are joined by Paralympians Will Stedman, competing in the men's T36 100m, 400m and long jump, Danielle Aitchison in the women's T36 100m and 200m, and Mitch Joynt in the men's T64 200m. It will be a special championships for Joynt, who coaches newcomer Paddy Walsh, who will make her senior international debut in the women's T64 long jump. Michael Whittaker, a former international fashion model before he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder leading to progressive vision loss, will also make his international debut. Whittaker, who took up the sport during Covid lockdown, will compete in the T13 5000m and Sarah James, the team's only wheelchair racer, will make her debut in the women's T53 100m.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Welsh Para-table tennis legend Robinson retires
Welsh Paralympic champion Neil Robinson is retiring after a career in which he represented Great Britain in 11 Paralympic Games, seven as an athlete and four as a coach. Bridgend-born Robinson, 66, won gold with the men's C3 team as well as a silver in the singles competion at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics. He also won medals in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, before retiring after the Beijing games and starting his coaching career at London 2012. "This is a very difficult decision given my long-term involvement with British Para Table Tennis [BPTT]," said Robinson, "but I feel the time has come to retire and have the flexibility to spend more quality time with my family, even more so now that my wife Karen and I are grandparents. "I love the sport of table tennis so I intend to stay involved and to continue working with BPTT when required and I will look at helping to develop established and new players individually." Robinson was training to work as an electrician in the Merchant Navy when he was a passenger in a car accident at the age of 18 that left him requiring a wheelchair. After taking up table tennis during rehab he went on to become one of Britain's most successful Paralympians, winning seven medals across seven games. Robinson was also a European champion and world number one, and in 2012 he received an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List for his services to the sport. Having switched to coaching, and with several Welsh players in the British squad, Robinson set up a centre at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff where the Welsh players could benefit from top quality coaching on a full-time basis. "This was really important," said BPTT performance director Gorazd Vecko. "When we started with the new structure the Welsh players came to Sheffield for a training camp, and for the rest of the time there was no coaching in Wales at the highest level. "When I look back, I think that Neil was a huge part of every medal that was achieved by a wheelchair player from Wales over the last 15 years." Robinson coached Paul Davies to a bronze medal in London and also Tom Matthews to bronze in Tokyo 2021. Although he was not in the corner when another of his players, Rob Davies, won gold in Rio, that remains one of his highlights alongside his own playing acheivements. "I am very proud to have had a positive influence in the lives of the athletes that I have been involved with and contributed to some of their life changing moments," said Robinson. "There have been many memorable moments at the Paralympics Games - the standout moments for me as an athlete are in Barcelona 1992 where I won gold and silver medals, and Atlanta 1996 in achieving silver and bronze medals. "As a coach, again there are several amazing memories - coaching Paul Davies to an unexpected singles bronze medal at the 'home games' in London 2012 and years of preparing Rob Davies to achieve his singles gold in Rio 2016. "The circumstances surrounding Tokyo 2021 and then coaching Paul Karabardak, Tom Matthews and Megan Shackleton to their first Paralympic medals was really special to me. "I am extremely proud to have won seven Paralympic medals as an athlete but working closely with and helping athletes achieve their Paralympic dreams gives me a greater feeling of satisfaction."
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
IPC President Andrew Parsons Set For Historic Aotearoa New Zealand Tour
Press Release – Paralympics New Zealand Connecting with key strategic partners to help harness the power of the Paralympic Movement and contribute real change to Aotearoa New Zealand, Parsons will participate in a jam-packed schedule once arriving in Auckland on Wednesday (21 May) morning. International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons is set to be proudly hosted by Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) during an historic tour of Aotearoa New Zealand this week. Connecting with key strategic partners to help harness the power of the Paralympic Movement and contribute real change to Aotearoa New Zealand, Parsons will participate in a jam-packed schedule once arriving in Auckland on Wednesday (21 May) morning. Experiencing his second time in Aotearoa New Zealand, the most influential person in the global Paralympic Movement will later on Wednesday morning fly to Wellington where he will be welcomed by Sport NZ CEO Raelene Castle and Sport NZ colleagues, before attending a meeting with Hon. Mark Mitchell, the Minister for Sport and Recreation. On Thursday, the IPC President since 2017 will be present at a Corporate Breakfast in central Auckland which will feature a panel of three Paralympians – #158 Adam Hall MNZM, #164 Cameron Leslie MNZM and #195 Anna Grimaldi MNZM – and an invited list of key strategic and commercial partners, stakeholders and guests. He will later attend a private meeting with the Governor General of New Zealand, Her Excellency the Rt HonDame Cindy Kiro GNZM, QSO, who also serves as PNZ Patron. The Brazilian-born IPC President will also assist with the presentation of PNZ Order of Merit pins to Paralympian #107 Grant Sharman MNZM and Robyn Scott-Vincent MNZM and also meet members of the PNZ Athletes' Council and Staff Team. On Friday (23 May) – his final full day in Aotearoa New Zealand – he will attend the PNZ Athletes' Council meeting, as well as watch and present Para swimming medals at the New Zealand Swimming Championships hosted at the Sir Owen G Glenn Aquatic Centre at AUT Millennium. He will fly out of Auckland to Vanuatu on Saturday (24 May) morning as part of his ongoing tour of the Oceania region. Paralympics NZ Chair Jana Rangooni said: 'It is a huge honour and a privilege for the IPC President Andrew Parsons to be here in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Paralympic Games are the third largest global sporting event in the world behind the Olympic Games and FIFA Football World Cup. The IPC President's time here will shine a light on the Paralympic Movement and the transformative power of the Paralympic Games and Para sport, which will help us in our quest for a fully inclusive society in Aotearoa New Zealand.' IPC President Andrew Parsons said of his upcoming visit to New Zealand: 'I'm really excited to be visiting Paralympics New Zealand, a nation with a rich Paralympic history and heritage that regularly punches above its weight in all areas on the world stage. 'During my visit I'm eager to learn more about Paralympics New Zealand's work to better understand the challenges they are facing and also take in some of their key learnings that have consistently made them one of the best performing nations per capita at the Paralympic Games. 'As with every visit, I'm also keen to meet Para athletes who are the beating heart of the Paralympic Movement.' Notes: About the New Zealand Paralympic Team NZ Paralympic Team strives to challenge perceptions towards disability, showcasing high performance athletes who prove anything is possible. Since Tel Aviv 1968 Paralympic Games, 237 New Zealand Paralympians have been part of New Zealand Paralympic Teams competing at 27 Paralympic Games (15 summer and 12 winter) winning a staggering 245 medals (210 in summer and 35 in winter). About Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) Paralympics New Zealand is the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) for New Zealand. We are a charity and our overall vision is 'Transforming lives through Para sport'. As a member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), we are part of a worldwide social change movement, which uses the power of sport to positively influence community perceptions of disabled people and to promote a more diverse and inclusive society. To do this, we support and celebrate the achievements of Para athletes at international and national competitions all year round. Every two years, we lead New Zealand teams to the Paralympic Games. We also work in the local community to advocate for sport to become more accessible for disabled people and to support the creation of more systems and programmes to enable participation in Para sport. Our funding comes from a mix of public donations, fundraisers, philanthropic partners, commercial partners, plus government and community grants, which together make our Para sport, community and advocacy programmes possible.
