Automotive manufacturer Toyota has signed up as a worldwide partner of the International Paralympic Committee in a groundbreaking deal that covers the entire Paralympic movement.
The agreement will run for nine years, from 2016 to 2024. The partnership will be limited to Japan in 2016 before extending to a global basis in 2017.
Under the terms of the agreement, which covers the vehicles, mobility services and mobility solutions categories, Toyota’s rights will include the IPC, all National Paralympic Committees from 2017 and future Paralympic Games organising committees from the Tokyo 2020 summer Games onwards.
It is the first partnership in the history of the Paralympic movement to encapsulate the IPC, all national bodies and future Paralympics Games under one agreement. It is also the first time an International Olympic Committee top-tier partner has demonstrated such a commitment to the Paralympic movement. Toyota’s deal with the IOC will run until 2024.
“This is a monumental day for the entire Paralympic movement as it is the first truly worldwide partnership to involve the IPC, every single National Paralympic Committee and forthcoming editions of the Paralympic Games,” IPC president Sir Philip Craven said. “We are very excited about our long-term partnership with Toyota as we share similar values and a passion that mobility for all drives social inclusion.”
Craven added: “The IPC aspires to make for a more inclusive society for people with an impairment through para-sport, however this can only be achieved through mobility for all. Today the Paralympic Games are the world’s number one sporting event for driving societal transformation and in partnership with Toyota, we believe we can energise and activate the whole Paralympic Movement to further our impact on society, enriching millions more lives. We aspire for Toyota to become a front runner and champion of the Paralympic brand and become the first IOC TOP partner to build a complete and holistic partnership with the Paralympic movement. We want Toyota to join the IPC in our efforts to transform societies through sport.”
Toyota will be the IPC’s sixth worldwide Paralympic partner, joining the likes of Atos, Ottobock, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa.