Allianz Olympic & Paralympic Partnership
Let’s care for tomorrow. For a better and more inclusive world through sports.
Allianz got behind the Olympic & Paralympic Movements as the Worldwide Insurance Partner. Sharing the Olympic and Paralympic values, this partnership inspires us to provide confidence in tomorrow - for our customers, athletes and our employees.
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In 2021, Allianz officially began its eight-year worldwide partnership with the Olympic & Paralympic Movements. Just like them, Allianz has a strong global presence and a good track record in sports.
We are proud to be a supporter of the Movements and celebrate being one of the TOP Partners. The power of sport unites us around a shared passion - it connects our employee community worldwide, including experts who are making the partnership happen, talented athletes, Para athletes and sport professionals who joined our company.
Currently, we are full of excitement and getting ready for the next Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024.
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How do we live this partnership ? Take a quiz!
Start the interactive video quiz to learn more about the values we share and how Allianz employees can experience the Olympic & Paralympic Partnership.
Partnership with the Olympic Federation of Ireland and Paralympics Ireland
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In Allianz, we have been a proud partner of Paralympics Ireland since 2010, making us the longest supporter of Para Sport in Ireland. Through our partnership, our aim is to promote greater diversity in Irish Sport and showcase the amazing athletes involved in Para Sport.
In 2021 we were delighted to enter into a three-year partnership with the Olympic Federation of Ireland. Enabling us to get behind both our Olympic and Paralympic athletes on their sporting journeys, inspiring them to write their own future with the support of Allianz.
Our Ambassadors
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Rhasidat Adeleke – Irish Sprinter
In April 2023 we were delighted to announce our new partnership with record-breaking Irish sprinter, Rhasidat Adeleke.
Rhasidat’s determination, drive, and passion for excellence make her an inspiration to all and we are thrilled to welcome her into the Allianz global family as our newest sporting ambassador.
At Allianz, we are proud to be global and local partners of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, and to be continuing to build on our strong support of Ireland’s future athletes, inspiring them to write their own future with the support of Allianz to underwrite it.
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Ellen Keane -Paralympic Swimmer
At Allianz Ireland we are proud to have been working with Paralympic swimmer Ellen Keane since 2017 to promote the common goal of better representation in society as well as sport.
This partnership aligns with a core strategic priority at Allianz to promote gender equality and inclusion, and supplements our partnership with Paralympics Ireland which began in 2010, making Allianz the longest standing supporter of Para Sport in Ireland.
Team Allianz’ Olympians and Paralympians
We care for athletes’ and Para athletes’ tomorrow by offering job opportunities to talents who have proven to be exceptional performers, thanks to their mindset and skills. Our colleagues share how their life as sport professionals comes together with a career within Allianz.
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Djamal Hamache – Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball Player
“Don’t give up on your dreams.”
Djamal proudly represented the Algerian national wheelchair basketball team as team captain at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games – a memorable highlight to finish his career in sports.
Click to read more about Djamal’s job at Allianz, his experience in combining sports and work, and his number one career advice.
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At Allianz
Today, Djamal works as a product manager for personal insurance at Allianz France, using agile working methods to define solutions. He appreciates Allianz for its values, social commitments and ability to innovate and adapt to tomorrow's needs.
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Sports & Work
During his competitive years, Allianz gave him extra time off to prepare for major events like the Paralympic Games. Even as a retired Para athlete, he still stays active. He thinks it’s important for people to choose a physical activity that they enjoy, and make it a priority – but be patient in making progress.
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Djamal’s career advice
Djamal is determined about the goals he sets for himself, and doesn’t let obstacles stand in his way. So, what career advice does he have for others? “Like in sports, you should never hesitate to take risks, face challenges and avoid settling for your comfort zone. Don’t give up on your dreams.”
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Ian Philip Seidenfeld U.S. Paralympian – Para Table Tennis
"Take a moment to breathe before the chaos of a stressful situation begins”
Ian's triumph in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games was particularly meaningful to him as his father had been his coach throughout his journey to win the gold medal.
Click to read more about Ian’s role at Allianz and his number one career advice. -
At Allianz
Ian joined Allianz Life in the US after studying finance at his university. He already had experience with Allianz, mentoring a group of Allianz employees as part of the Allianz Buddy Program. As an Internal Sales Consultant, he now works with colleagues from the sales organization, ensuring they have the latest product knowledge and sharing innovative sales strategies. Additionally, he collaborates with the team at Allianz Life that manages the Olympic and Paralympic Partnership locally, where he provides insights from his experiences as a Para athlete.
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Ian's Advice for a healthy work-life-balance
Ian continues playing table tennis at a high-performance level as he can balance work and sports. He makes it a daily routine to play table tennis right after his workday at Allianz. "Allianz promotes a good work-life balance with a clear separation of time, allowing me to focus on work during work hours and my personal needs outside of work," he says.
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Ian's career advice
Ian finds it important to challenge himself as much as possible at work, but ensures that he doesn't carry any negative emotions beyond the workplace, much like his mindset in sporting competitions. His career advice is: "Enjoy the process".
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Gündem Emine Intepe – Para fencer and swimmer
“Prioritize self-discovery to understand your aims and goals.”
Gündem is the first female Para athlete who swam across the Bosphorus. Next to swimming, she also competes in the Turkish national team of wheelchair fencers. She believes true loss occurs when one fails to learn from mistakes rather than simply experiencing defeat.
Click to learn more about Gündem's role at Allianz and discover her top career advice. -
At Allianz
At Allianz Türkiye, Gündem is an HR Data Analytics and Processes Specialist. She analyzes HR data and optimizes processes to support the company's human resource functions. "Allianz offers me many opportunities to improve my skills and capabilities with courses and training programs, so I can develop towards a better version of myself tomorrow."
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Her take on sports & work
Gündem successfully balances by maintaining a training regimen outside of working hours. She aspires to become a world champion as her ultimate objective. Gündem emphasizes the importance of self-care, sharing that she incorporates meditation and music into her daily practice. “I appreciate that Allianz promotes mental well-being, for example by regularly organizing workshops”, she adds. When encouraging others to embrace new challenges, Gündem advises: "Push your limits and unlock your potential."
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Gündem's career advice
“Prioritize self-discovery to understand your aims and goals. Gaining an understanding of what really matters to you can ease the process of choosing a fulfilling career path and a happier life. The key is not just working hard, but working efficiently and engaging in comprehensive self- analysis.”
Athletes welcome!
We support Para athletes and athletes in finding new career opportunities. Join our athlete talent pool.
Mental Well-being Coaching by Allianz athletes
Allianz recognizes that mental health is important. In the lives of our athletes, but also the lives of our employees. We asked three of our colleagues who are familiar with both worlds for their tips to prepare for mentally demanding situations.
Learn from their experiences:
“Coping with new situations” with Georg Kreiter, Paralympian
Georg Kreiter is a retired Paralympic mono skier who now works as a graphic designer for Allianz Germany. He discusses the difficulties he faced following his fatal accident and how he was able to refocus twice: becoming a successful Para athlete and transitioning to a career at Allianz.
“A sense of mental wellbeing is simply more important than material things.” - Georg Kreiter
“Gaining confidence” with Lobke Berkhout, Olympian
Lobke Berkhout, a retired Dutch Olympic sailor, and Allianz Benelux brand ambassador shares her success story with us. Despite the great disappointment of not winning an Olympic gold medal, which was always her goal, Lobke never lost confidence.
“Preparation is key to good performance.” - Lobke Berkhout
“Preparing for mental challenges” with Anja Habermacher, competitive athlete
Anja Habermacher, a competitive dancer and Business Analyst at Allianz Trade, discusses how to mentally prepare for challenges. She discusses her stress-reduction techniques, which enable her to balance her athlete and business careers.
“I take confidence from knowing the deep reasons why I do things because it makes decisions easier.” - Anja Habermacher
Mutual learning with athletes
The Allianz Buddy Program gives our employees the opportunity to be mentored by an athlete and discuss topics like resilience, stress management and mental well-being in small groups. We bring our promise of caring for the career of our employees and athletes to life.
Here at Allianz Ireland, we have participated in three iterations of this buddy programme which has seen a number of Olympic and Paralympic athletes exchange their experiences with our people in the spirit of true collaboration.
Hear about our employees' take-aways as mentees of the buddy program:
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"My expectations were surpassed in the best way possible. Each session was a breath of fresh air and covered topics that everyone in the group could relate to and understand."
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"Covering a whole range of topics like overcoming barriers or motivation and perseverance made these sessions the highlight of my week. Meeting others from around the organisation and connecting on a level other than ‘work’ was brilliant."
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"Our mentor/ Athlete was absolutely brilliant at bringing like-minded people together and giving us great tips and tricks. Allianz have knocked it out of the park with this programme and I can happily say I am an advocate for the Buddy Programme going forward."
Mentoring also happens the other way round
Our colleagues become mentors for athletes. Explore the tips that mentors from Allianz share with athletes.
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"Make use of your current network to receive career orientation and advice. Your contacts can help you navigate your career journey."
Nick Green, Olympic & Paralympic Partnership
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“Seeking diverse perspectives fosters a deeper understanding and informed decision-making.”
Ana Queenan Shapiro, Olympic & Paralympic Partnership
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"When applying for a job, leverage your strenghts. Showcase alignment with your passions and the capabilities you bring as an athlete."
Marleen Wernstedt, Olympic & Paralympic Partnership
Insights from the Olympic & Paralympic Partnership Team
Working for the Olympic & Paralympic Partnership program represents an unexpected job opportunity for our worldwide marketing, communication, HR, sales, and distribution colleagues. Together, they work on our ambitions relating to "People," "Business," and "Brand."
Hover over their pictures to learn more.
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People
"We prepare ourselves for Paris 2024 by working together with athletes to organize engaging activities for employees and decorating our offices. I am thrilled to see the emerging excitement internally and how this unites us."
Caroline Hirtzberger, Allianz Trade
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Business
"I assess risks and identify insurance needs in the context of the Olympic & Paralympic partnership and sports ecosystem. From athletes to spectators to the organizing parties - our goal is to provide attractive insurance offers. Being a part of this initiative fills me with pride and motivation."
Michael Furtschegger, Allianz Commercial
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Brand
“As part of the Olympic and Paralympic Partnership, I have set up programs for children where we collaborate with local sports clubs to introduce track athletics to them.“
Frank Burghout, Allianz Benelux
Find your next job opportunity
Explore the variety of opportunities and open positions within Allianz.