TENNIS NEWS FROM LONDON AS MARK FOSTER & TIM HENMAN LAUNCH SPORTSAID & CHAMPIONS TENNIS PARTNERSHIP

Written by: Staff on 16th September 2016

TENNIS NEWS FROM LONDON AS MARK FOSTER & TIM HENMAN LAUNCH SPORTSAID & CHAMPIONS TENNIS PARTNERSHIP |

Five-time Olympian Mark Foster and

Tennis Legend Tim Henman

Launch SportsAid Partnership at

Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall 2016

Five-time Olympian Mark Foster and tennis legend Tim Henman launched this year’s exclusive charity partnership between Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall and SportsAid, an organisation providing financial support and recognition to the next generation of British athletes.

This year the tournament, taking place between 30th November and 4th December 2016 at the Royal Albert Hall, one of the UK’s most celebrated entertainment venues, will celebrate its 20th Anniversary. Owned and managed by IMG, Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall is the season ending finale of the ATP Champions Tour. Guests are treated to seeing the greatest players on the grandest stage, with former Grand Slam Champions, World No.1s and national icons all taking to the court. This year, former World No.1 and seven-time Grand Slam Champion John McEnroe will be competing alongside former World No.1 and two-time US open Champion Pat Rafter, former British No.1 Tim Henman, former World No.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, Fabrice Santoro, Younes El Aynaoui and jester of the court, Mansour Bahrami.

SportsAid will host a charity session on the afternoon of Friday 2nd December 2016, which will include:

A private audience with Olympians and Paralympians, SportsAid’s future heroes and Champions Tennis players

A silent auction

A parade of Olympians and Paralympians over the last 40 years, including British athletes who participated in the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro

Live competitions with a chance to win prizes and meet and greet British Olympians

A performance from English soprano, Laura Wright

Mark Foster, the former world champion swimmer who will be in attendance at the charity session, said:

“SportsAid’s support came during the early stages of my career and made a real difference to me. The financial help and recognition they provided enabled me to pursue my swimming ambitions and gave me a real boost when I needed it. I’m really looking forward to attending the charity session at Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday 2nd December and raising lots of money to help support the next generation of young British athletes, as well as watching some first class tennis.”

Tim Henman said:

“Champions Tennis is one of my favourite sporting events of the year, and a real high-note on which to end the year. I look forward to playing tennis at such a grand venue once again and help celebrate Champions Tennis 20th anniversary.”

2016 is also a landmark year for SportsAid, who celebrate their 40th anniversary. The only national charity of its kind, SportsAid was the major source of funding for most of the country’s top athletes from 1976 up until National Lottery support arrived in 1997. The charity then began to focus on helping Britain’s young talented sports stars. SportsAid provides these athletes with financial support and recognition as they’re starting out in their sporting careers. The charity currently supports over 1,000 young athletes, who are the UK’s brightest prospects. 65% of Team GB who competed in Rio have received financial support from SportsAid during their careers, and 46 of the 67 British medals were won by SportsAid alumni including Mo Farah, Adam Peaty, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Max Whitlock, Bradley Wiggins and Katherine Grainger. 68% of this year’s ParalympicsGB team are also SportsAid alumni.

Tim Lawler, Chief Executive of SportsAid, said:

“SportsAid is honoured to be the official charity partner of Champions Tennis for 2016. Over the last 20 years, Champions Tennis has secured a special place in the British sporting calendar. This partnership provides us with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the end of our 40th anniversary year, and acts as the perfect platform for the next chapter in SportsAid’s story.”

Over its 20-year history, Champions Tennis has boasted some of the game’s biggest names including John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Pat Rafter, Goran Ivanisevic, Tim Henman and Andy Roddick.

Tickets are available for this year’s Champions Tennis from £18.50. Ticket-holders for Friday 2nd December have the option to upgrade to the ‘Olympian Advantage Package’, to include a champagne reception, Q&A session with an Olympian and Champions Tennis legend and SportsAid goodie bag.

Listings:

Event: Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall

Location: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP

Dates: Wednesday 30th November – Sunday 4th December 2016

*Friday 2nd December at 1.30pm – SportsAid charity session

Tickets: Standard (from £18.50), Premium (from £69.50), VIP (from £199)

Hospitality Packages: Available from £299 per person (excluding VAT)

Booking information: 020 8233 5838 / championstennis@img.com

Website: www.championstennis.co.uk

Facebook: @officialchampionstennis

Twitter: @championstennis

Instagram: @champions_tennis

About IMG

IMG is a global leader in sports, events, media and fashion, operating in more than 25 countries. The company represents and manages some of the world’s greatest sports figures and fashion icons; stages hundreds of live events and branded entertainment experiences annually; and is one of the largest independent producers and distributors of sports media. IMG also specializes in sports training; league development; and marketing, media and licensing for brands, sports organizations and collegiate institutions. In 2014, IMG was acquired by WME, a leading global entertainment agency.

About SportsAid

Since 1976, SportsAid has helped aspiring British sportsmen and women when it matters most – at the very start of their journey towards becoming the next generation of sporting heroes. SportsAid helps young athletes to overcome the financial obstacles they face in their bid to become Britain’s next generation of Olympians, Paralympians and world champions. The cost of their sport is one of their greatest challenges and despite already representing Great Britain at competitions all over the world, most receive no funding beyond what SportsAid provides through fundraising. The charity’s Patron is Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.

SportsAid alumni

SportsAid has supported thousands of athletes over the last four decades….

Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Tom Daley, Bradley Wiggins, Dina Asher-Smith, Mark Cavendish, Ed Clancy, Richard Hounslow, David Florence, Greg Rutherford, Christine Ohuruogu, Adam Peaty, Morgan Lake, Amber Hill, Giles Scott, Justin Rose, Heather Stanning, Helen Glover, Louis Smith, Max Whitlock, Amy Tinkler, Laura Trott, Katherine Grainger, Maddie Hinch, Hollie Webb, Constantine Louloudis, Mo Sbihi, George Nash, Lutalo Muhammad, Jade Jones, Jack Laugher, Joe Clarke, Chris Hoy, Steve Redgrave, Ellie Simmonds, Paula Radcliffe, Seb Coe, Steve Cram, David Weir, Matt Pinsent, Amir Khan, James DeGale, Luol Deng, Ben Ainslie, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Amy Williams, Shelley Rudman, Sally Gunnell, Fatima Whitbread, Kelly Holmes, Jonathan Edwards, Denise Lewis, Rebecca Adlington, Sarah Storey, Leon Taylor, Ade Adepitan, Roger Black, Steve Backley, Jonnie Peacock, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, Duncan Goodhew, Sharron Davies, Kyle Edmund, Katie Swan, Liam Broady, Naomi Broady, Gordon Reid and Anne Keothavong.

Topics: 10sballs, ATP Champions Tour, Champions Tennis, London, Mark Foster, Royal Albert Hall, SportsAid, Tennis News, Tim Henman