SPONSORING CHRIS

Why sponsor an elite athlete?  

Many athletes are supported by brands, companies and individuals which want to be associated with an elite athlete. This is vital for Paralympians who wish to be able to train full-time to reach their full potential in their chosen sport.  

Reasons for supporting an athlete can be very personal ie. the athlete is known to a company owner or brand. It can be that an athlete’s sport or personality is aligned to that of a brand or a company. Or it can be that a brand or a company wants to be associated with the world of sport in general and the Paralympics in particular. 

Chris has sponsors who play a vital role in allowing him to train full-time in his sport and help him cover all associated expenses including extensive travel costs around the world to compete. He also lives in Wiltshire and trains in Walsall at the British Judo Olympic & Paralympic National Training Centre. He has trained at this centre full-time since 2013.  

Chris’s sponsors 2023 to 2024: 

Imagine Cruising – https://www.imaginecruising.co.uk – is a company which specialises in cruises and tours and has offices all over the world. Based in Royal Wootton Bassett, the team are supporting Chris as he trains and competes globally, on his journey to Paris 2024. In return for sponsorship, he has so far delivered 2 fitness Judo master classes, where he also engages with staff and updates them on his journey. He also shares information about them on his own social media channels when asked, as well as writing monthly blogs which are shared within the company.  

Phonak – https://www.phonak.com/en-uk – Phonak kindly sponsors Chris’s hearing aids, which are vital tools for his everyday life as he has moderate to profound hearing loss. Phonak’s ethos is that well hearing is well being. Chris’s condition – ocular albinism – means that he is registered blind, but this also affects his hearing negatively. Fantastic hearing aids improves his quality of life dramatically enabling him to communicate even more effectively.  

Ryse Energy – https://www.ryse.energy – a global leader in off grid renewable energy solutions including wind turbines and solar solutions. To date the team have undertaken more than 4,000 energy solutions across seven continents.  

United S&C is a gym based in Hinkley in Leicestershire who sponsor Chris with free strength and conditions sessions, as well as allowing full access to their facilities. Access to Wayne Lakin who delivers Chris’ sessions and the gym itself has proved a vital element to Chris’ overall performance development. https://www.unitedsandc.co.uk/facilities 

GLL support athlete development with a complete support package including financial and training memberships to sites all over the country. They aspire to enable supported athletes to achieve success and use them to inspire the next generation of athletes and our wider communities. Chris accesses their facilities in Swindon when he is training from home. https://www.gllsportfoundation.org

What do you get in return for sponsorship? 

This really depends how much you are willing to invest in Chris as he journeys towards Paris 2024.  

You could ask Chris to: 

  • Speak at an event run by you – in person or virtual (expenses may apply) 
  • Attend an event run by you, such as to open a new premises. 
  • Run a judo session for your team – providing you’ve got appropriate space. 
  • Share some social media posts about you, your brand, your ethos. 
  • Take part in any company podcast, provide a guest blog or some other marketing asset. 
  • Wear branded clothing supplied by you – though in very particular circumstances.  
  • Send out a media story about his relationship with you – or your own team could do this too subject to Chris’s approval.  

Chris cannot:  

  • Carry logos on any PARALYMPICS GB kit as that is reserved for main sponsors of the Paralympic Games.  
  • He cannot take sponsorship from conflicting brands without mutual agreement from both brands concerned.  
  • He cannot take sponsorship from a brand which is not aligned to his own morals & ethics.  
  • He cannot take sponsorship from any brand which could bring the Paralympics into disrepute.  

If you wish to discuss a sponsorship deal around Chris Hunt Skelley MBE please contact his media representative Fiona Scott, of Scott Media by emailing