News

UK: Athletics star Emily Freeman launches Aviva Lap of Honour

22 January, 2010

• Reward scheme launched to recognise Sheffield’s inspiring sporting individuals

Number one athletics sponsor Aviva is to celebrate members of the public contribution to sport by giving them their very own lap of honour at its leading Athletics events in 2010.

The insurance giant launched the Aviva Lap of Honour scheme in Sheffield today ahead of the Aviva World Trials and UK Championships at the English Institute of Sport (EIS) on the 13-14 February.

Aviva GB & NI team member Emily Freeman was on hand to kick off the initiative which recognises unsung sporting heroes in the local community by providing them a lap of honour and £1,000 donation to their sporting cause.

Freeman will also be attending the Aviva World Trials and UK Championships to present the lucky winner with their £1,000 prize money and to support them in this rare opportunity to share a stage with some of the world’s best athletes.

She said “There have been so many people that have helped me achieve my sporting successes so it’s great that the Aviva Lap of Honour is giving individuals in the local community some recognition for all their hard work in sport.”

Whether its parents who are constantly driving their children and their team mates to matches, coaches who dedicate their spare time to helping others or teachers who are an inspiration to school sport the Aviva Lap of Honour will recognise those achievements and reward individuals for their commitment.

Kay Martin, director of brand and sponsorship at Aviva, said: “We are proud to have been the number one sponsor of UK Athletics since 1999 and through this sponsorship we have continued to recognise individuals and celebrate their achievements. The Aviva Lap of Honour is all about putting the public at the heart of athletics and what better way than giving you the opportunity to be on the track itself!”

To enter or nominate an inspiring sporting individual simply email a 150 word explanation of why you/they deserve to win with your name and telephone number to lapofhonour@aviva.com.

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Media contacts:

Aviva’s press office - Hill & Knowlton
Amy King 
Telephone: 0207 413 3225 / 07971 703 304
E-mail: aking@hillandknowlton.com

Ed Leech 
Telephone: 0207 413 3207 / 07917 111 349
E-mail: eleech@hillandknowlton.com

Stephanie Burke 
Telephone: 0207 413 3084 / 07866 899 075 
E-mail: sburke@hillandknowlton.com

Notes to editors:

• Enter the competition via sending email lapofhonour@aviva.com.Competition closes on 10 February 2010. Winner will be required to attend Aviva World Trials and UK Championships at the EIS in Sheffield. Winner required to be photographed and interviewed for local media.
• Aviva is proud to have been the number one sponsor of UK Athletics since 1999 and are committed to developing the sport at every level, from playground to podium.
• In 2010 Aviva will have hosted six world class athletics events on home soil and have helped and supported the Aviva GB & NI junior, senior and disability teams as they prepare for all major events and championships. Through the Aviva UKA Academy, it is anticipated that by 2012 Aviva will have given every child in the UK the opportunity to get involved in athletics.
• Aviva is the world’s fifth largest insurance group, serving 50 million customers across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. We are the largest insurance services provider in the UK and one of the leading providers of Life and Pension products in Europe.
• The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive. For more information on our athletics sponsorship please visit www.aviva.co.uk/athletics/.