Kinder responds to the call of Aurélie Aubert, freshly won a Paralympic gold medal in boccia. A surprising partnership which promises to shine a spotlight on this little-known discipline. Will Aurélie be able to shine again in Los Angeles thanks to this unexpected support?
This is the story of an improbable encounter between a Paralympic champion and an iconic brand. Three months after her coronation in Paris, boccia player Aurélie Aubert has just signed a one-year partnership with Kinder. A first for the Normandy athlete, but also for the famous chocolate brand which has never before sponsored an athlete with a disability.
An appeal launched live on television
It all started with a sentence pronounced by Aurélie Aubert on September 5 on the set of the show “Quelle Jeux! “. Invited as the new star of the Paralympic Games, the young woman spoke with humor of her love for Kinder chocolate. And launched an appeal to the Italian brand:
I hope Kinder will sponsor us
Aurélie Aubert, on the set of “Quelles Jeux!” », France Télévisions, September 5, 2024
A little phrase thrown out in a joking tone, but which did not fall on deaf ears. The sequence, widely relayed on social networks, attracted the attention of Ferrero France. A few days later, the French subsidiary of the Italian giant contacted Aurélie Aubert on X (ex-Twitter) by inviting her to consult her private messages. The start of an improbable idyll.
Financial and logistical support
Three months of discussions later, the two parties formalized their union. Kinder is committed to financially supporting Aurélie Aubert for one year, with the possibility of extension until the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. A global partnership which will cover all of the athlete’s sporting costs:
- Management and planning of the sports season
- Travel and logistics for competitions
- Specialized equipment and materials
- Remuneration of your sports assistant
Enough to allow Aurélie Aubert to face the future calmly and to devote herself fully to her objective: retaining her title in Los Angeles. A hell of a challenge for someone who has been training hard since her return from Paris.
A spotlight on boccia
Beyond individual support, this partnership also offers a fantastic showcase for boccia, a confidential disabled sport discipline. Little known to the general public, it struggles to attract sponsors and broadcasters. A vicious circle that Aurélie Aubert intends to break.
This is the first time that we have had such an offer in boccia. For me, this is clearly unprecedented. I hope this will make others want to follow us.
Claudine Llop, coach and sports assistant to Aurélie Aubert
The bet is daring for Kinder, who is banking on an athlete and a sport with little media coverage. But the chocolate giant is taking on this bold choice. Its objective: to promote sport for all and convey positive values. A long-term commitment that could be emulated.
Aurélie Aubert, new disabled sports muse
Propelled into the spotlight, Aurélie Aubert easily embraces her new status as ambassador. The native of Rouen, licensed at the Bois-Guillaume club, multiplies media interventions to publicize her favorite sport. With a leitmotif: making the practice more accessible.
We need to create vocations. To show that disabled sport is like able-bodied sport. That we train hard, that we have high goals, that we experience strong emotions. We have to break the clichés.
Aurélie Aubert
Being the first disabled sports athlete sponsored by Kinder, an honor but also a responsibility that Aurélie Aubert takes very seriously. Determined to use this new exhibition to move the lines. And prove that sport, with or without disability, remains universal.
A message that the Paralympic champion will proudly carry to future international competitions, with the strong support of her new partner. A beautiful story that has only just begun.
