The Hartford, which has supported U.S. Paralympic athletes for more than 20 years, has renewed its sponsorship of U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) dedicated to recruiting and training elite athletes with physical and visual disabilities.

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The Hartford’s national Paralympic ambassador this year is retired U.S. Navy Lt. Brad Snyder (Photo: ...

The Hartford’s national Paralympic ambassador this year is retired U.S. Navy Lt. Brad Snyder (Photo: Business Wire).

A leading U.S. provider of group disability insurance, The Hartford will continue as the Official Disability Insurance Sponsor of U.S. Paralympics through 2020. In addition, the insurer will be the presenting sponsor of the Male Paralympic Athlete of the Year, a fan-voted award presented in October 2016 as part of the Team USA Awards.

“We are proud to be a founding partner of U.S. Paralympics and excited to continue to help its athletes train and compete at a world-class level,” said The Hartford’s Chairman and CEO Christopher Swift. “U.S. Paralympic athletes perfectly embody our Ability Philosophy, which is grounded in the belief that people are defined by their ability, not their physical limitations.”

“The Hartford has had a tremendous impact on the Paralympic movement in the United States,” said Rick Adams, chief of Paralympic sport and national governing body (NGB) organizational development for the USOC. “With more than two decades of sponsoring U.S. Paralympic athletes, the company has been a true leader in raising awareness of our sports and helping Team USA prepare for elite competition.”

The Hartford’s national Paralympic ambassador this year is retired U.S. Navy Lt. Brad Snyder, who won a gold medal in swimming at the London 2012 Paralympic Games exactly one year after an explosion from an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan cost him his vision. Snyder will appear in the company’s advertising and at events.

“The support that The Hartford provides me and U.S. Paralympic athletes is invaluable as we train for a spot on Team USA to compete at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games,” said Snyder. “I’m thankful for the opportunity with The Hartford to share my story of prevailing and show what’s possible with the right technology and team behind you.”

South by Southwest: Death of Disability
Snyder will speak at South By Southwest (SXSW), the annual film, music and technology festival in Austin, Texas, that attracts more than 85,000 participants. In a panel discussion on March 11, he and U.S. Paralympic gold medalist Alana Nichols will tackle the question: Can we predict the death of disability as we know it today? Their SXSW session will cover how technology is leveling the playing field between abled-bodied and disabled. They will also discuss original research on technology and disability conducted in collaboration with The Hartford.

Sponsorship and U.S. Paralympics
As part of its partnership, The Hartford sponsors and organizes events featuring U.S. Paralympic athletes throughout the country and shares athletes’ stories through advertising, marketing and social media. The programs provide an opportunity for The Hartford’s business partners, employer clients and employees to share a meaningful experience in the course of everyday business. The programs featuring U.S. Paralympic athletes also create educational opportunities across the country to promote awareness – particularly within the business community – about the value that employees with disabilities bring to the workplace. Over the course of its partnership, The Hartford has held more than 2,500 of these events, connecting millions of Americans with U.S. Paralympic athletes and sports.

The Olympic equivalent for athletes with physical and visual disabilities, the Paralympic Games take place following the Olympic Games in the same host city and athletic venues. Team USA will compete in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games from Sept. 7-18. For more information on U.S. Paralympics, visit http://www.usparalympics.org.

About The Hartford
With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford (NYSE: HIG) is a leader in property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds. The company is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at www.thehartford.com. Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheHartford. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TheHartford.

The Hartford® is The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including issuing companies, Hartford Life Insurance Company, and Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company. Its headquarters is in Hartford, Conn.

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