Through UK Sport, BAE Systems has already provided benefit to the all-conquering British Track Cycling squad, through its expert advice, guidance and understanding of aerodynamics. Chris Boardman, coach of the GB cycling team and former Olympic Gold Medallist, said: "UK Sport's partnership with BAE Systems provides British Cycling with a great opportunity to access a vast array of knowledge and expertise, helping to answer performance questions. The most significant barrier to innovation in sport is the limited access to new ideas, and through this partnership we hope to overcome that barrier."
UK Sport and BAE Systems’ partnership is seen as an impressive step forward in the bid for medals in international competition. The Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe MP, said: "I welcome this partnership between UK Sport and BAE Systems. It could give our elite athletes an edge in their push for medals, and prove the difference between taking home a Gold or Silver. Britain has many talented athletes in the sports that will benefit from this move and no doubt they will embrace the expertise of BAE's engineers in helping them go even faster."
Sailing is another sport that has already benefited informally from the relationship with BAE Systems. Stephen Park, RYA Olympic Manager said: “Sailing has worked successfully with BAE in the past to help develop world class equipment, notably with the Finn mast for Iain Percy’s Finn dinghy that he sailed to the gold medal in Sydney in 2000. The sport of sailing continues to utilise technology to maximise medal winning opportunities, both in terms of on and off the field of play developments. Working in partnership with UK Sport and BAE Systems will give us access to world class minds and technologies that otherwise Skandia Team GBR simply could not afford to get involved with. I am sure this relationship will directly impact on medals in 2012, and possibly even as quickly as 2008, or 2010 for the winter sports.”
Andy Schmid, Performance Director of the British Bob Skeleton team, said:
“British Skeleton is delighted with this opportunity to work with both UK Sport and BAE Systems to bring innovation and ideas into our sport. It can be nothing but beneficial to us in the lead-up to our potential continued medal success in the Olympics in Vancouver in 2010. It presents a great opportunity for skeleton as a growing and complex winter sport to improve its technical delivery and we’d like to thank our partners BAE systems and UK Sport for their investment into this programme.”
John Anderson, Performance Director of British Canoeing, said: “We recognise the importance of embracing technology and innovation at GB Canoeing. The partnership between UK Sport and BAE Systems is an exciting prospect for the development of our sport and our aims to win medals for Team GB.”