BMW to supply 4,000 Minis for 2012 Olympics

Date: 20/11/2009

The 2012 Olympians will be transported around London by 4,000 Minis, as BMW is announced as a first-tier sponsor of the games.

A deal between the 2012 Olympic staff and the German automaker was favoured over competitors Ford and Nissan, naming the Mini as official transportation sponsor of the games.

Bicycles would be provided to athletes for transportation around the Athletes’ Village and by the London Games staff, while some Minis will be converted into accessibility vehicles.

The Mini is being promoted by BMW as being a low-carbon emission vehicle that is in line with London’s goal of hosting the ‘greenest’ Olympic Games yet.

The Times reported the deal may include more than £20 million in cash for the games and still brings the fundraising total shy of the Games’ more-than £700 million target.