BP today signed agreements with Azerbaijan’s National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee to support the country’s national teams and a group of selected national athletes in the run up for the London 2012 Games. This happens on the eve of BP’s celebration of the 20th anniversary of its presence in Azerbaijan since 1992. Under the agreement BP Azerbaijan becomes the official partner of the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee and the Azerbaijan National Paralympic Committee for the London 2012 Games. BP also announced today the names of seven Azerbaijani athletes – three Olympic and four Paralympic, whom the company will be supporting as they prepare for and participate in the London 2012 Games and whom BP has selected as its ambassadors for the Games. These are: Jabrail Hasanov – freestyle wresting, Farida Azizova - taekwondo, Rovshan Bayramov – Greco-roman wrestling, Ilham Zakiyev – judo, Afag Sultanova – judo, Olokhan Musayev – athletics, Oleg Panyutin – athletics. Please see the press pack to find out more about BP Azerbaijan’s ambassador athletes. Addressing the agreement signing event, Rashid Javanshir, BP’s Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, said: “We are delighted to be able to support Azerbaijan’s National Olympic and Paralympic Committees and a group of national athletes as they head for the Games. It will be an exciting time for the entire country and BP would like to assure the nation that we will be sharing their excitement as we all watch the progress the Azerbaijani athletes make in the run up for the Games and as well as their pride when the athletes come back home with Olympic medals. “Throughout our 20-year presence in Azerbaijan BP has enjoyed excellent relationships with all stakeholders and a strong partnership based on the nation’s confidence in our ability to deliver the strategic projects that it has trusted us to lead. BP is committed to being with Azerbaijan for long-term as the country develops towards its strategic role of a regional leader with strong sustainable economy and prosperous nation,” Javanshir said. Chingiz Huseynzade, Vice-President of the Azerbaijan National Olympic Committee, said: “This strategic partnership showcases the commitment of BP Azerbaijan to our country and its people. We are very pleased to see that a company that for 20 years has been the leading operator in Azerbaijan substantially contributing to the development of our oil and gas industry through the major projects that it operates, and to the development of communities, local enterprises, public and educational institutions through its sustainable development initiatives, has now decided to enter into partnership with Azerbaijan’s National Olympic and Paralympic Committees. We hope this partnership will be as successful as all others that BP has previously initiated in Azerbaijan”. In his remarks to the same event Ilgar Rahimov, President of the Azerbaijan National Paralympic Committee, said: “We believe this partnership will help to raise the awareness that sport can benefit everyone in the community. We also believe that BP’s partnership specifically with our committee and its support to Paralympic athletes will once again highlight the admiration and respect that each of us feel for those who have taken the challenge to be part of London Paralympics 2012”. BP Azerbaijan will provide additional information of its partnership with the national committees and its support to the national teams and athletes throughout this year – both before and after the Games.