Following its huge success in Glasgow 2014 - in which Team England topped the medals table for the first time since 1986, Commonwealth Games England (CGE) has secured its first major partner for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Global IT specialist, CGI, has signed-up to become Team England’s official systems integration, BPS and IT outsourcing partner.

The partnership will see Commonwealth Games England support CGI’s internal engagement strategy by providing access to industry experts, athletes, sports, performance coaches and nutrition experts.  This will encourage its employees (members) to adopt healthier lifestyles, develop awareness of the benefits of exercise and wellbeing and learn how sporting excellence can transfer to business.

CGI’s members will also have the opportunity to win a trip to the Commonwealth Games in 2018 by being nominated by their peers for demonstrating and embodying CGI’s core values.

The partnership with CGE will see CGI support a number of young athletes on the journey to the Gold Coast in 2018, as part of a commitment to helping develop young talent.

In the UK, CGI employs around 6,000 professionals across England, Scotland and Wales, with around 4,000 in England. CGI is among the leading independent information technology and business process services firms in the world.  Its involvement with the Commonwealth Games extends to partnerships with other home nations Commonwealth teams; Team Wales and Team Scotland.

Ian Metcalfe, Chairman of Commonwealth Games England said, “Following a highly successful Glasgow Commonwealth Games for Team England, we are delighted to announce our first major partner to join us on our journey to Gold Coast 2018.

“Taking on the Australians in their own back yard – plus the other Commonwealth nations – is one of the toughest and most exciting challenges for any English sports team.  We are delighted to have sponsors of the calibre of CGI helping us ensure that this will be the best-prepared and supported English team to have ever represented the country at the Commonwealth Games.”

Tim Gregory, President of CGI UK said, “We are delighted to partner with Team England, Team Wales and Team Scotland during this exciting period. The Glasgow Games in 2014 were a huge success for all three teams and we are very excited to work with them as they begin their four year journey to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“When we started talking to the teams, we found that their values and commitment to developing talent were very closely aligned with those of CGI and we are looking forward to travelling with them on their journey to the Gold Coast and bringing the games to life for our clients and members. In the UK, CGI employs around 6000 professionals across England, Scotland and Wales and our members, which is how we refer to our employees, are really excited about getting involved with their ‘local’ team.”

Nick Evans, Head of Commercial at Commonwealth Games England said, “It is great news for Commonwealth Games England to have secured this partnership. Staff engagement is one of our key benefits we can help deliver to our commercial partners – through our access to many of England’s most admired athletes - and we are excited at this long term partnership with CGI. Their support of our team and athletes is invaluable and we hope it will be the catalyst in portraying Team England as an attractive commercial proposition for further partners to help us build a winning England movement”