Steve Wadey, CEO
I am once again delighted that QinetiQ is able to maintain its support for the UK Armed Forces Winter Sports Association (UK AFWSA). Against the backdrop of an increasingly challenging global security environment that has inevitably placed changing demands on our military customers and colleagues, it is encouraging to see that these Inter-Services Snow sports Championships and all they stand for are still able to be held. I look forward to supporting another successful championships at the Meribel resort that continues to host these championships so very well.
We are extremely proud of our collaboration and association with the UK Armed Forces, and respect the way that military colleagues across all operating domains continue to deliver amazing capability in response to increasingly challenging European and global security threats, as well as humanitarian crises. We also appreciate the ongoing efforts of our military colleagues in delivering the required outcomes from the Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper 2023 refresh, whilst also maintaining core military output and responding the continuing Ukraine crisis, wider threats to European security and most recently the on-going conflict in Gaza. We are very privileged to play our part in enabling UK military capability, and value the close and enduring relationships that we have with our partners and customers in Defence.
The impressive achievements of our Armed Forces are only possible because of the inspiring people that make up today’s services, who rise to all challenges with unswerving loyalty and a characteristic ‘can do’ approach. In these difficult times, the role that sport and adventurous training plays is arguably more important than ever in retaining and developing inspiring people within the Armed Forces. We remain proud to enable this through our continuing support for the UK AFWSA, and especially for the inspirational Armed Forces Para-Snow sport Team (AFPST).
As always, the dedication, courage and team-work displayed by all ISSSC competitors and those in the other UK AFWSA competitions throughout the season is humbling. These attributes, together with a relentless focus on performance, continue to serve as a great example to us all in whatever we do, whether in industry or the military.
I and colleagues across the Defence enterprise wish all ISSSC competitors’ safe training and racing this season, and look forward to supporting you all on the slopes in early 2024.