Twenty years of momentum: Allianz and the Paralympic Movement

In its early years, Allianz' involvement reflected the time: the Paralympic Movement was still building global visibility, and many partnerships leaned heavily on patronage. But the relationship quickly developed.

Over time, Allianz evolved from early support to becoming the IPC's first International Partner in 2011. That marked a different model: not just donations alone, but a partnership built through shared planning, service offerings, and long-term storytelling.

"When Allianz became our first International Partner in 2011, it represented a fundamental shift — from sponsors who supported us to partners who helped shape our strategy,” says Nael Ogden-Smith, the IPC’s Director of Partnerships. 

“Over the past fifteen years, that partnership has been critical in year-round visibility. The consistency of their engagement through six Paralympic Games cycles and countless competitions in between has helped transform Paralympic sport from a niche event into a global movement."

That evolution also raised a practical question: how do you engage audiences with unfamiliar sports that broadcasters can struggle to cover as deeply as mainstream events? 

One answer was to deliver education in a way that respected athletes and welcomed new fans. Allianz helped pioneer early Paralympic sport infographics and, later, expanded this through Sports Explainers. The goal was to make disciplines easier to understand, especially in moments when broadcast opportunities were limited. The result was a clearer entry point for audiences and a more informed stage for athletes.

Allianz is the Presenting Partner of the Paralympic Torch Relay, not the Games as a whole. That distinction matters because the Torch Relay is a symbolic moment — a bridge between preparation and performance, and a public invitation for communities to participate in the build-up to the Games.

The topic of preparation as a defining moment is also the foundation of Allianz’s Step Into Life campaign, which highlights the daily steps, the nervous readiness, and the decision to show up. Paralympic athletes live this daily. The 20-year partnership reflects the same principle: sustained commitment, visible progress and the belief that meaningful change happens between the spotlight moments, not only during them.

A long-running partnership is credible only if it does more than celebrate athletes during major events. Allianz has increasingly focused on programs that extend the Movements’ principles — inclusion, opportunity and resilience — into everyday life.

MoveNow: This global program promotes physical activity, mental resilience and inclusive access to movement, designed to support young people to build healthier futures. Guided by insights from Paralympic athletes who understand barriers to participation, MoveNow operates in more than 30 countries and stresses that movement builds confidence before it builds performance.  In 2023, MoveNow brought together over 5,000 young people in São Paulo with Paralympic athletes for adaptive sport workshops, and launched a training video series to motivate people with and without impairments to return to sport after a long period of inactivity following the pandemic.

Financial literacy initiatives: Recognizing that many Paralympic athletes lack the financial infrastructure available to Olympic athletes, Allianz created financial planning workshops that help athletes handle sponsorships, career transitions and long-term security. 

"Milano Cortina 2026 marks 20 years since Allianz first stood alongside the Paralympic Movement,” says Eike Bürgel, Global Head of Olympic & Paralympic Program, Allianz SE. 

“Over 20 years, we've grown from early support into a long-term partnership that elevates visibility, professionalism, and athlete support across every Games. Our work reflects the power of sport to unite people everywhere, transforming society into a more just and inclusive place."

Milano Cortina 2026 shows how partnerships can mature on shared values and consistent delivery: helping audiences understand, athletes be seen and a global movement grow. The Olympic Winter Games took place in Italy from 4–22 February 2026, with the Paralympic Winter Games starting March 6 through 15.  

After 20 years, the achievement is not that Allianz is still a partner. Rather Allianz has grown with the Movement — and is preparing to step into the next era alongside it. That era will be defined by new challenges: expanding Paralympic sport in underrepresented regions, building digital platforms that make the Movement accessible year-round and ensuring that the professionalization achieved at elite levels extends to grassroots structures. 

As LA 2028, French Alps 2030 and Brisbane 2032 approach, the partnership will continue to evolve — not by doing more of the same, but by asking what the Movement needs next, and jointly building towards that.