Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

British BP has supported the final event of the Children's Paralympic Festival held on December 19 at the main Paralympics Complex in Sumgayit, Azerbaijan's third largest city.

The event was linked to the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities marked on December 3.

Addressing the event, BP's Vice-President, Communications and External Affairs and Security, Huseyn Mammadov expressed his support for the children involved in the festival.

"BP is pleased to be part of this exciting event, which we hope will encourage young, talented disabled children to develop and fulfill their potential in sports by being part of Azerbaijan's Paralympic movement. Courage is a value shared by the Paralympic movement and BP. We are convinced that everything is possible if you have the courage and determination to overcome challenges," he said.

He also noted that BP enjoys close ties with some of Azerbaijan's highest-performing Paralympic athletes, such as Ilham Zakiyev, Afag Sultanova, Olokhan Musayev and Oleg Panyutin.

Mammadov expressed hope to see some newly-emerging, talented athletes "representing our country at future Paralympic Games".

The festival was planned by Azerbaijan National Paralympic Committee (NPC) as a series of Paralympic competitions and games arranged throughout Azerbaijan.

The festival is aimed at supporting the development of the national Paralympic movement and promotion of Paralympic values - inspiration, courage, equality and determination.

Being the partner of NPC, BP is supporting the Children's Paralympic Festival in the county. BP was involved in the events that took place in the Agsu and Kurdamir districts. The company's athlete ambassadors were present in all events to meet and inspire the children.

BP Azerbaijan signed a partnership agreement with the Azerbaijan NPC in January 2012, which was recently extended until the end of 2016. As part of this extended partnership, BP Azerbaijan has committed to support the implementation of the Azerbaijan NPC's 2013-2016 strategic plan for the development and expansion of the children's Paralympic movement in Azerbaijan The plan includes the creation of new Paralympic sports athlete development and the promotion of Paralympic sports in the country.

Also, BP has donated 14 wheelchairs to Paralympic athletes to enable them to compete in national and international competitions, and has also donated an accessible Ford minibus to the Azerbaijan NPC. The minibus will provide transport for the athletes, coaches and officials so they may identify and select disabled children with high sporting potential from towns and villages, thereby expanding the talent pool of Paralympic athletes in Azerbaijan.

BP opened an office in Baku back in 1992. The company operates within a number of legal entities in Azerbaijan, reflecting its evolution in the country and the region since 1992. The principal legal entity is BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Ltd.