Hancock Prospecting and the Georgina Hope Foundation announced as Principal Partner for Rowing Australia and the Australian Rowing Team until 2020

Rowing Australia President, Rob Scott has today announced a land mark four-year partnership for the sport of rowing, which will see Hancock Prospecting and the Georgina Hope Foundation become the first ever Principal Partners of Rowing Australia and the Australian Rowing Team through until September 2020. Mrs Gina Rinehart has also agreed to continue her role as Patron of the sport.

Building on from an existing relationship as major partner, this transformational deal will provide a significant and long term investment to support the delivery of Rowing Australia’s new High Performance Plan CampaignNumberOne which was finalised earlier this year.

The underpinning principles of CampaignNumberOne represent a step change for Australian rowing and include the introduction of two centralised national training centres and bespoke state based pathway programs that nurture and develop a pipeline of future talent into the centres.

Rowing Australia President Rob Scott positively endorsed this extension of the partnership.

“We are incredibly excited to announce that Mrs Rinehart has kindly agreed to continue as Patron right up until Tokyo 2020. Her Patronage has been of overwhelming value, and to have her agree to continue in this role as we come together to become the world’s best rowing nation is momentous for the sport.

Mrs. Rinehart is an outstanding role model for Australia, and it is what she symbolises – her dedication, hard work, perseverance and love for her country – which have made her so successful not only in business but in her personal feats, which is why her patronage is so important and beneficial to our rowers.

Our vision is to be the world’s number one rowing nation and this significant support from Hancock Prospecting and the Georgina Hope Foundation will allow rowing to deliver on the key strategies outlined in CampaignNumberOne that will support and develop Australia’s rowers like never before.”

A key pillar of the Principal Partnership will be the provision of elite rowers with direct financial assistance to support their new centralised training environments and bring Australia in-line with what other top rowing nations provide their athletes.

Mr Scott said that “Mrs Rinehart wants to help make possible Rowing Australia’s vision of returning the country to being number one in the world. After a steady performance in Rio, this new sponsorship will be game-changing for our elite athletes as they move through the Tokyo 2020 cycle.

Australia’s elite rowers commit the time and effort to train as hard as any full time professional athlete, yet historically have had limited access to financial assistance to support their daily living expenses. Through the generous support of Mrs Rinehart Rowing Australia will be able to deliver direct financial assistance to all rowers who are attending the National Training Centres.”

Further details on the financial support package for athletes will be announced in September.

The terms of the four-year deal with Hancock Prospecting and the Georgina Hope Foundation include official naming rights to the Australian Rowing Team, exclusive Performance Partner of both National Training Centres and the State Based Bespoke National Pathways Programs.

For more information on Hancock Prospecting and the Georgina Hope Foundation please visit www.hancockprospecting.com.au and www.ginarinehart.com.au.