Australian travel company announced as Commonwealth Games England official travel partner

STA Travel have become the first official travel partner of Commonwealth Games England for Gold Coast 2018 ©STA Travel

Commonwealth Games England have announced STA Travel as its first official travel partner ahead of the 2018 event in Gold Coast, Australia.

The company will provide flights to Team England’s athletes and coaching staff for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, which take place from September 5 to 11, the 2017 Youth Games in St Lucia and the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

“We are really pleased to welcome STA Travel as an Official Partner,” Commonwealth Games chairman Ian Metcalfe said.

“Although the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow seem to have been only a short while ago, we are only 100 days away from the Youth Games in Samoa.

“STA’s support of CGE’s operational staff is fundamental to facilitating convenient transport for the athletes, particularly over the logistically challenging journey to Samoa.

“The CGE team is already looking ahead to the 2018 Games to ensure that Team England is fully prepared and ready to compete on the international stage again.

"It will be great to have STA’s support during the three year journey to the Gold Coast.”

England will be hoping to build on their impressive medal haul when they travel to Gold Coast in 2018 ©Getty Images

The development forms part of a key strategy for STA Travel, an Australian travel provider set up over 35 years ago, as they are attempting to expand their reach into the sporting market.

“We are delighted to be working with Team England on this partnership,” STA Travel UK and United States managing director Glen Mintrim added.

“Young people being actively engaged in sport is very important and working with Team England to promote youth sport at such a high level is a great honour.

“STA Travel Sport is a growing part of our business and one we hope will go from strength to strength thanks to this three-year deal."

The deal with STA Travel comes after Commonwealth Games England revealed global IT specialists CGI as their first major partner in April.

England finished top of the medals table at last summer's Games in Glasgow, with 58 golds in a 174 medal haul, although they will have their work cut out to repeat that feat and finish above hosts Australia at Gold Coast 2018.