Virgin Media has painted broadband cabinets gold in Cardiff to celebrate the achievements of ParalympicsGB at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Proud partners of ParalympicsGB, Virgin Media whipped up support in the UK with its #WeAreHere campaign which encouraged the nation to cheer on our incredible Paralympians as no fans, friends, family or loved ones could travel to Japan to watch the Games in person.
ParalympicsGB racked up a staggering 124 medals, taking second place in the overall medals table and winning medals in more sports than any nation has ever achieved at Paralympic Games.
A total of 14 athletes from Wales represented ParalympicsGB in Tokyo, securing an impressive 10 medals.
To recognise ParalympicsGB’s success at the Games, Virgin Media has given some on-street cabinets in the city a golden upgrade. The golden broadband cabinets in Cardiff can be located side-by-side outside St John The Baptist City Parish Church in Cardiff city centre.
ParalympicsGB athlete, Aled Davies from Bridgend, who won a Gold medal in athletics said: “Thanks so much to Virgin Media for recognising the achievements of ParalympicsGB in this way. To have a gold reminder in Cardiff city centre is a real honour. The support of fans back at home meant so much to all athletes taking part in Tokyo and definitely spurred us all on to perform at our very best.”
Virgin Media has also painted broadband cabinets in other parts of the UK including Belfast, Edinburgh, London, Loughborough and Stoke Mandeville – the birthplace of the Paralympic Games.
A special event was held in Stoke Mandeville, Buckinghamshire, with ParalympicsGB athletes Jody Cundy OBE, Phoebe Paterson Pine, Stef Reid, Tom Hamer who had just returned from Tokyo. The athletes unveiled the gold broadband cabinet after helping apply the finishing touches of gold paint.
The ParalympicsGB athletes also held a special PE lesson at nearby Booker Park school, giving children top tips on how to become Paralympians of the future, as well as sharing their experiences of the Games in Tokyo.
Simon Groves, Director of Brand and Marketing at Virgin Media O2, said: “As proud partners of ParalympicsGB, we’ve been blown away by the team’s incredible medal-winning success in Tokyo. As well as supporting our Paralympians with our #WeAreHere campaign, we’ve given our cabinets the golden touch to mark the team’s amazing achievement at the Games. Our cabinets are placed at the heart of communities across the UK and we hope that residents in Cardiff join us in welcoming ParalympicsGB home.”
Mike Sharrock, Chief Executive of ParalympicsGB, said: “ParalympicsGB rewrote the record books at Tokyo 2020 with countless incredible performances to inspire and unite the nation. Painting these cabinets gold is a fitting tribute to the excellence and resilience of the athletes who competed in Tokyo and a wonderful way for the British public to have a lasting reminder of what they achieved. Tokyo 2020 was the most complex Games we have ever been involved in but also one that demonstrated the incredible impact these athletes can have in challenging perceptions of disability and proving that they truly are Impossible to Ignore.”
