Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) and the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) signed a sponsorship contract running until the end of 2015, through which Portugal's national electricity company will sponsor COP and the Portuguese Olympic Team as part of the programme to prepare for the next Olympic Games, in 2016 in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.
This protocol was signed by REN CEO Rui Cartaxo and the President of the Portuguese Olympic Committee, José Manuel Constantino, in the Sports Pavilion of Lisbon Technical University. The ceremony was attended by the Olympic Champion and COP vice-president, Rosa Mota, and Olympic medallist Nuno Delgado, as well as Olympic athletes Joaquim Videira and Mário Aníbal, and the current Portuguese Golf Champion Sofia Mendes Ribeiro.
To mark the occasion, around 100 children from local schools demonstrated an array of Olympic events and then formed the five Olympic rings.
Rui Cartaxo, REN CEO, said, 'the Olympic movement is a benchmark because of the values it transmits and the ambition it represents for all citizens and companies. REN is proud and excited to be in partnership with the COP and to aid the preparations of the Portuguese Olympic Team ahead of the Brazil Olympic Games.'
José Manuel Constantino, President of the Portuguese Olympic Committee, also expressed his delight at 'an important step in the life of our institution. The support of national companies is essential to enable us to promote the Olympics and sport in general in Portugal. Despite the difficult times we are going through, we hope that REN will be just one of several private entities to work in partnership with COP and support our Olympic athletes.