British Airways World Cargo begins Olympic equipment shipments (01/08/2008)

British Airways World Cargo has begun the task of carrying Great Britain's kit for the Olympic and Paralympic games in China this summer.

Following months of preparation, the first equipment to be moved through cargo were three canoes, each nearly four metres long and weighing 10kg, which were loaded into the bellyhold of flight BA39 bound for Beijing at the end of July. Olympic canoeists Fiona Pennie, Campbell Walsh and David Florence were also onboard the flight.

British Airways is the official airline to the British Olympic and Paralympic teams, and the BA World Cargo team has been working with the airline to ensure their equipment arrives in Beijing and Hong Kong in preparation for the Games of the 29th Olympiad.

Over the coming weeks, BA World Cargo will be transporting over 80 pursuit, road, mountain and BMX bikes for the cycling teams, plus 18 pole vaults, javelins and an array of other equipment for the athletics team. The carrier will also ship archery equipment, fencing sabres and foils and medical support equipment, along with over 170 day and competition wheelchairs for the Paralympic athletes.

BA World Cargo has been working with individual teams to understand the equipment being shipped and determine optimum loading plans - staff have been practising with drainpipes to ensure the men's vaulting poles, each 5.3 metres long will fit inside a Boeing 747. Specialist containers will also be used to load and protect the equipment in the bellyholds of the planes the competitors will travel to China on.

Mark Gardiner, senior manager Heathrow operations, BA World Cargo, said: "BA World Cargo is proud to be a part of the Great British Olympic and Paralympic teams and the logistics involved in their journeys to and from China. Our own team has been preparing for the event for some time now, and look forward to ensuring all the equipment arrives and returns in peak condition."