WORLD CHAMPION heptathlete Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson has endorsed an initiative with young people in mind.

British Gas, the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the British Paralympic Association (BPA) has announced a new five-year partnership agreement up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As the Official Energy Services Partner, British Gas will power Team GB and ParalympicsGB ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games respectively, providing critical support to both organisations as they make their final preparations for next year’s events and beyond.

With less than a year to go until the Olympic and Paralympic Games returns to Europe, as well as directly supporting the athletes’ endeavours, the partnership is aimed at empowering young people and athletes to make a positive difference for themselves and their local communities.

I’m delighted to help play a small part by launching the partnership at my primary school, St Mark’s

Katarina Johnson-Thompson

To kickstart the partnership, an exciting schools programme, Get Set for Positive Energy will aim to reach up to 1 million children and families across the UK. Team GB and ParalympicsGB’s Get Set was originally created as the official education programme for London 2012 and now offers a broad range of free, cross-curricular resources and activities for schools and community groups across the nation.

The free programme, which has been designed by educational experts, harnesses the collective power of Team GB, ParalympicsGB and British Gas to empower children and their communities in the role we can all play in saving energy and creating a greener future. It seeks to inspire primary school children to use their positive energy to drive change and build healthy habits for the future.

With a requirement for schools to have a climate action plan in place by 2025 the programme will support teachers in providing a range of free learning resources, that can easily be adopted as part of a wider green educational plan.

Primary school children in the UK will also have the chance to take part in a special challenge in 2024, where they can put their learning to the test by re-designing their school environment to be more sustainable.

To launch the partnership, Olympian Johnson-Thompson and Paralympian Jack Hunter-Spivey, surprised pupils at Katarina’s former primary school in Liverpool, St Mark’s Catholic School. The Liverpudlian athletes unveiled an inspiring mural as a visual reminder to the pupils about the contribution they can make in driving positive change and building a healthier, more sustainable future.

British Gas is also developing a ‘Pathways’ programme to support former athletes with important new career opportunities within the organisation. This programme offers a way for athletes to transfer the skills and disciplines they have developed in their athletic careers to new roles within the British Gas workforce.

Olympian Johnson-Thompson said: “To be involved in Get Set for Positive Energy and return to my old school to help inspire the next generation is such an honour. The programme enables kids from across the UK to learn more about how we can be more energy efficient, which is naturally essential for a greener future, so I’m delighted to help play a small part by launching the partnership at my primary school, St Mark’s.” 

Hunter-Spivey, a ParalympicsGB table tennis bronze medallist from Tokyo 2020, added: “The Get Set programme is incredible! Not only does it get children involved in sport whatever their ability, it will also enable them to become knowledgeable about the environment, setting them up with skills that will be of huge value to society in years to come. The mural is so inspiring, and it’s a pleasure to kick this initiative off in the great city of Liverpool!”

Andy Anson, Chief Executive of the BOA, said: “It is great for Team GB to be working with a major national brand in British Gas. As well as direct support for our athletes in getting them to the Olympic Games, the full potential of this partnership will be realised through the support for local communities in the UK, as we recognise that we need to work together to help each other on our journey to a more sustainable future.”

David Clarke, CEO of ParalympicsGB, said: “With less than a year to go to Paris 2024 this partnership is a huge boost to our ambition of taking a best prepared team to the Paralympic Games to excite and inspire the nation and break down barriers for disabled people in the UK. It is a partnership with a critical wider purpose too, empowering people with the knowledge they need to move towards a more sustainable future.

As an entirely independently funded organisation, the British Olympic Association relies on the support of its commercial partners – such as British Gas – to fund its activities in taking Team GB athletes to both the summer and winter editions of the Olympic Games.

ParalympicsGB is the UK’s largest disability sports charity and relies on the support of its commercial partners to deliver a world class environment where athletes can achieve their personal best performances and break down barriers for all disabled people.