sporttalents in Paris

With the expression of best wishes and the presentation of small good luck charms and gifts, Volkswagen Financial Services have given a hearty send-off to the top track-and-field athletes Laura Burbulla and Phil Grolla from the VfL Wolfsburg sports club as they head off to Paris. The 2024 Summer Paralympics will be taking place in the French capital from August 28th to September 8th. Laura Burbulla and Phil Grolla are among the 40 athletes supported by VW FS as part of the company's program to sponsor and promote young sports talents from Lower Saxony.

"We at Volkswagen Financial Services are absolutely thrilled and proud that no fewer than two athletes from our young talent sponsorship program have qualified for the Paralympic Games. This shows once again that we are on the right track with our support for young athletes from Lower Saxony. We're keeping our fingers firmly crossed for Laura and Phil in Paris and wish them great success, lots of fun and unforgettable experiences," said Frank Fiedler, Management Board Member for Risk, Tax and Legal Affairs at Volkswagen Financial Services and member of the jury that selects the talented young athletes.

Fiedler is also pleased because the support program is yielding results much earlier than many experts initially predicted. "Two talents we support are already going to Paris – I'm absolutely delighted. We want to promote medal-winning performances with a long-term effect and not just support grassroots sports with an indiscriminate scattering of funds."

The sports funding program was launched two years ago – in response to Germany's poor performance at the Tokyo Summer Games and to extend the company's sponsorship support beyond just local teams like the Eintracht footballers and the Basketball Lions. The program puts its focus exactly where support is often most needed – during that transition from youth to adult competition on the way to greater success.

Laura Burbulla and Phil Grolla thanked VW FS for the send-off and, above all, for the support. "VW FS have enabled me to find the best way to master both high school studies and sport without financial worries. The funding is very important for me to finance instruction courses and training camps," Laura Burbulla explained.

She will compete in the long jump on Sunday, September 1st at 8:40 pm and in the 100 meters on Wednesday, September 4th. What are her goals for these competitions, which will both take place in the Stade de France stadium? "My main aim in Paris is to gain a lot of experience. To reach the final in the long jump would be a dream come true," maintained the 19-year-old, who was born in Wolfsburg and is currently studying sustainability management.

She is greatly looking forward to the Games in Paris, which will also be her first international competition at the adult level. "The atmosphere will be fantastic, and I'm sure we'll also have plenty of opportunity to get to know many other athletes in the Olympic Village and cheer on the others during their competitions," the young athlete hopes.

For Phil Grolla, the Paris adventure begins two days earlier than for Laura. He will compete in the 100 meters on Friday, August 30th. "My goal is to make it to the final and give my best possible performance. If that works out, anything is possible," said the sprint specialist, who was also born in Wolfsburg and who will also be staying in the Olympic Village.

How important is the VW FS support for him? Phil Grolla put it like this: "The funding from VW FS helps me above all to manage my day-to-day training routine. It has enabled me to reconcile the demands of my studies and sport, which gives me the chance to pursue my sport at this level en route to Paris." Grolla is studying property management, having previously completed an apprenticeship as a real estate agent at Volkswagen Immobilien in Wolfsburg.

Good to know:

Volkswagen Financial Services expanded their sports sponsorship in 2022 and are currently supporting 40 young sportsmen and sportswomen from Lower Saxony in the second round of their youth promotion program.

Young men and women between the ages of 13 and 24 are eligible to participate. The program also embraces young talents with physical disabilities.

The maximum funding amount per athlete or team is EUR 50,000. Eligible expenses include, for example, expenses for trainers, coach fees, training camps, competitions, travel costs, equipment, rental costs and sportswear. A seven-member expert jury decides on the amount and duration of funding.

This year's selection committee also included three world-class athletes: the former goalkeeper in Germany's women's national football team and ARD television expert Almuth Schult, the former biathlon world champion and Olympic champion Arnd Peiffer, and Kathrin Boron, the four-time Olympic champion and eight-time world champion in rowing.

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Volkswagen Financial Services are a business division of the Volkswagen AG group of companies and comprise Volkswagen Financial Services AG along with its associated companies, Volkswagen Bank GmbH, Porsche Financial Services, and the financial services companies in the USA and Canada that belong directly or indirectly to Volkswagen AG – with the exception of TRATON Financial Services and Porsche Holding Salzburg.