The partnership means Bupa will continue to support the highly-successful Athlete Medical Scheme (AMS), which provides extensive medical insurance to support elite athletes in their recovery from illness and injury, delivered alongside the English Institute of Sport, UK Sport's science, medicine and technology arm.

UK Sport has been working with Bupa for more than a decade with a formalised partnership formed in 2011, which saw the company first become the official health insurance partner.

The partnership has seen Bupa ensure more than 1,300 of the UK's elite athletes have access to specialist medical treatment, when expertise outside of the day to day medical support is required, varying from diagnostics tests and MRI scans to surgical procedures.

During this time, it is estimated that Bupa has covered more than 30,000 treatments for British athletes.

Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport said: "UK Sport's continued partnership with Bupa demonstrates the importance of injury prevention and fast recovery in the world of elite sport.

"The care Bupa provides our athletes compliments the world class medical care provided by the home country sports institutes.

"With just over two years to go until the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this renewed partnership is sure to provide fantastic peace of mind for athletes and coaches alike so they can concentrate on their performances and get to the start line fit and healthy."

As part of the deal, two-time cycling world champion Becky James has been named a Bupa ambassador ©Getty Images



As part of the partnership, two-time cycling world champion Becky James, who missed London 2012 while recovering from surgery on her appendix, will become an official Bupa ambassador.

"As an athlete, knowing we've got the medical support and expertise from Bupa is incredible," she said.

"It allows us to stay completely focussed on our training and performances knowing we've got access to some of the best medical treatment around.

"I have witnessed first-hand the benefits of the Bupa partnership.

"After missing London 2012 through illness, the expert treatment allowed me to focus on my recovery and come back better than ever to become world champion."

Patrick Watt, corporate director at Bupa Health Funding added: "We know how crucial it is for athletes to get their injuries and health problems diagnosed and treated quickly to enable a speedy recovery.

"We're proud that the UK's elite athletes have continued to trust us to provide them with top quality healthcare."

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