New major investment from Aker BP on “Equal Opportunities” in Norwegian volleyball
Aker BP has signed a new sponsorship agreement with the Norwegian Volleyball Federation. The company will be the general sponsor for three more years to ensure the federation’s long-term work with “equal opportunities” in Norwegian volleyball. The agreement strengthens the investment in para volleyball and elite sports for women in volleyball and beach volleyball.
The agreement is valid from 2026 to 2028 and was signed during the opening of the European Championship in sitting volleyball in Stavanger on Wednesday 21 May.
“Aker BP has been the general sponsor of the Norwegian volleyball federation for two and a half years, and we are proud that the cooperation has given a significant boost to both sitting volleyball and elite women in beach volleyball. Working for equal opportunities to perform in sports takes time, effort, and significant resources. Aker BP wants to be a predictable partner. We are signing an agreement today that ensures continued and increased focus on this important work in Norwegian volleyball after 2025,” says Lars Høier, SVP Yggdrasil. He signed the agreement on behalf of Aker BP.
The Work Has Just Begun
Aker BP and the Norwegian volleyball federation entered into the first three-year agreement at the beginning of 2023. For the first time in history, the volleyball federation then signed a commercial agreement for para-sports.
“The cooperation has contributed to the establishment of national teams, increased recruitment, and a higher level in sitting volleyball in Norway, as well as the implementation of the first-ever European Championship here in Stavanger. The funds from Aker BP have also given our best female athletes in beach volleyball better opportunities to perform and compete internationally. This is the result of systematic work over several years and external funds that make it possible,” says Secretary General Guro Røen of the volleyball federation.
“At the same time, our work on equal opportunities has just begun. We depend on solid partners, and it is fantastic that Aker BP is continuing as a partner in our long-term work to ensure that people with disabilities and women have equal opportunities to perform in volleyball,” adds Røen.
Women to Compete Internationally
Over 50 percent of the members of the Norwegian volleyball federation are girls and women. The volleyball federation is now developing a new strategy for women in volleyball, where the goal is ensure that more female athletes can compete at elite level, and to revive the national team.
In beach volleyball, the women’s national team is further strengthened, and the goal is for more teams to compete in international tournaments, and for one team to qualify for the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
“Aker BP has over time chosen to support organizations that have a clear strategy for ‘One Sport – Equal Opportunities.’ The Norwegian volleyball federation has both that and clear goals for the future. We look forward to cooperation for many years to come, and we are especially pleased that the cooperation now also includes the investment on women in volleyball, in addition to sitting volleyball and beach volleyball,” concludes Lars Høier.
The men’s national team Mol/Sørum will also be part of the new agreement from 2026.
