Toyota, a long-time backer of the Paralympics, has teamed up with three Irish athletes to launch the ‘Start Your Impossible’ campaign ahead of the Games, which will be held in Paris in August after the summer Olympics.
Who’s involved in the campaign?
Swimming gold medal winner Ellen Keane, Swimming silver medal winner Nicole Turner, and high jumper (and Tokyo 2020 participant) Jordan Lee will all be taking part in the campaign. We will get to see behind the scenes as they prepare for the upcoming games, getting to know them better, and above all seeing what Toyota calls: “the incomparable effort required for athletes to compete at such an elite level in the Paralympics Games.”
Ellen Keane, Irish Gold Medal Paralympian, said, “Toyota’s Start Your Impossible is a real glimpse into the hard work and commitment it takes to compete in the Paralympics. I am surrounded by the strongest people who continuously inspire me. Even though I have competed in four games, I am still blown away by my teammates and competitors. The Paralympics introduced me to a community of people just like me, where I feel confident with who I am. By sponsoring the Games, Toyota is connecting people with disabilities across Europe to a community of people just like them.”
What else is Toyota doing at the Olympics and Paralympics?
Toyota sponsors the Olympic and Paralympic Games and is the official vehicle supplier for Paris 2024. It will bring a fleet of 2,650 electrified vehicles to help showcase hybrid, electric, and hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Almost two-thirds of that fleet - made up of Toyota bZ4X, Lexus RZ, Toyota Proace, and the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai - will have zero emissions. In fact, with 500 of them on the roads for the Games, it will be one of the biggest-ever gatherings of the hydrogen Mirai. The rest of the line-up will be hybrids — including the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports, Yaris Cross, and Highlander - capable of running on electric power in urban conditions for up to 80 per cent of each journey.
The aim is to reduce transport emissions by as much as 50 per cent compared to the last Games, and Toyota is also bringing along some fully-electric ‘last-mile’ solutions in the form of the C+walkS and C+walkT scooters, wheelchair e-pullers, 250 APMs (Accessible People Movers), as well as 150 wheelchair-accessible Toyota Proaces.
’Hard work and dedication’
Toyota is also directly supporting 100 athletes for the Games, giving them Airbnb vouchers for their families so that they have accommodation in Paris, concierge services at Toyota House for the athletes and their family, a recovery room in Toyota House for athletes, public transport passes for athletes’ family in Paris and insurance, hospitalisation & medical support (in multiple languages) for athletes and family.
Zoë Bradley, Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Toyota Ireland, said: “We are truly privileged to work with Ellen Keane, Nicole Turner and Jordon Lee as they prepare to compete for Ireland in the Paris Paralympics Games in September. So much hard work and dedication goes into getting to the Paralympics games and Toyota’s ‘Start Your Impossible’ campaign was designed to inspire each individual to pursue their dreams and achieve the impossible. At Toyota, we believe in building a better world for everyone. It is a privilege to support and partner with our athletes and Paralympics Ireland who do incredible work in across the country to create a more inclusive society. From a global perspective, we’re proud to contribute to lowering emissions at the Paris 2024 Games through our fleet of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and fuel-cell electric vehicles, and to further support athletes with our personal battery electric vehicles, allowing mobility for all.”