UK Sport has today announced that Bupa is to be its Official Health Insurance Partner through to June 2013.
Having supported the highly successful Athlete Medical Scheme (AMS) for nine years, Bupa has formalised its relationship with UK Sport, becoming a commercial partner alongside BAE Systems, British Airways and Maxinutrition.
UK Sport’s AMS, delivered in partnership with the English Institute of Sport, provides over 1200 of the UK’s best athletes on the World Class Performance Programme with specialist medical treatment, when expertise outside of the day to day medical support is required. This varies from diagnostic tests and MRI scans to surgical procedures.
UK Sport Chief Executive, Liz Nicholl, said: “Providing world class medical support to our top athletes is of paramount importance. Early identification, treatment and recovery are all critical in allowing them to compete at the very highest level and prolong their careers.
“The Athlete Medical Scheme has given assurance to hundreds of athletes over the past decade and we are delighted our relationship with Bupa, supporting the world class medical care provided by the home country sports institutes, is set to continue into the future.”
Bupa Health and Wellbeing Managing Director, Natalie-Jane Macdonald, said: “We’re very proud of our record over the past nine years in providing Britain’s athletes with access to an even wider pool of medical expertise. Our partnership with UK Sport means we can continue to provide access to this essential support – ensuring that when our athletes do get injured they’re back competing at their very best as soon as possible.”
Olympic champion cyclist and AMS benefactor, Ed Clancy, said: “Injury and illness can threaten an athlete’s career if they’re not identified and dealt with quickly.
“I have been lucky over the years to have access to the very best treatment available through AMS, meaning I’ve been able to compete consistently on the world stage, and will hopefully continue to do so for many years to come.
“This is all thanks to UK Sport and Bupa for their continued support.”