The Paralympics New Zealand & Adecco Athlete Career Programme Partnership

Adecco, together with Paralympics New Zealand, is delighted to launch an exciting initiative that will support New Zealand athletes through their athletic careers and beyond.

The Athlete Career Programme is an international programme, spearheaded by the International Olympic Committee and delivered by Adecco globally that addresses athletes primary concerns  - job placement whilst competing and moreover preparing for life after competition.

The programme covers three critical areas including education, life skills and work-place placements through Adecco’s extensive employer network.

Barbara Kendall, New Zealand’s most accomplished female Olympian, is the Oceania representative for the Athletes Career Programme.

Overseas, the programme is already a huge success with more than 5,000 athletes throughout 40 countries receiving employment support and placements through this initiative. Today’s announcement ensures New Zealand Paralympic athletes will now have the opportunity to receive the same benefits.

To date one Paralympics New Zealand athlete, Rory McSweeney has received support through the Athlete Career programme and was very impressed by the programme, “The support of Adecco was fantastic, Lisa whom I dealt with was very enthusiastic and offered me some great advice about career options” said McSweeney.

Paralympics New Zealand Chief Executive, Fiona Pickering and Patrick Glennon, Adecco Vice President & Adecco Global Director of the International Olympic Committee Athlete Career Programme formalised the announcement today at a ceremony in Auckland.

Athletes present at today’s announcement believe the new programme will have a tangible benefit in athletes’ lives and are looking forward to the initiative being brought to life.

The first athletes to receive placement support are expected to enter the programme whilst many more will receive career planning support through 2011 in preparation for careers post London 2012.

This means Adecco New Zealand will now deliver career planning and job placement to Paralympians, Olympians and other Elite Athletes - one of only 15 countries in the world to do so.