28 January, 2025
As anticipation builds ahead of the ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, NatWest has unveiled ‘The Winter Team Talk’, a new motivational film created in partnership with Team GB and ParalympicsGB, designed to empower people across the UK to turn intention into action at the start of the year.
Timed to coincide with the countdown to the Winter Games, the film brings together a mix of current and former athletes from across Olympic and Paralympic sport, using their experiences of preparation, pressure and perseverance to explore what it really takes to keep moving forward.
Featured athletes include Sir Chris Hoy, six-time Olympic Champion and one of Team GB’s most successful athletes ever; ParalympicsGB’s Para Alpine skiing multiple medallist Jade Etherington, Scott Meenagh, ParalympicsGB’s Para Nordic skier; Taylor Lawrence, Team GB bobsleigh athlete; and Team GB figure skating pair Anastasia Vaipan-Law and Luke Digby.
At the centre of the film is a simple idea that progress starts before the big moment. Through voiceover from Sir Chris Hoy and first-person reflections from the athletes, Team Talk explores the small but decisive choices that ignite action, choosing to begin, committing to the process, and trusting yourself when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.
The campaign is the first to highlight NatWest’s expanded partnership with both Team GB and ParalympicsGB and draws on the energy and focus of the athletes as inspiration for audiences beyond sport.
Sir Chris Hoy said: “Every athlete remembers the moment they decided to commit, to start earlier, push harder, or believe in themselves when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed. But that mindset isn’t limited to sport. Team Talk is about reminding people that progress starts with action, and that often the hardest part is simply beginning.”
Margaret Jobling, Chief Marketing Officer, NatWest commented: “Team Talk is about harnessing the mindset of elite sport to inspire progress beyond the field of play. Through our partnership with Team GB and ParalympicsGB, we’re proud to showcase the dedication, resilience and self-belief that sit behind every great performance and to encourage people across the UK to take that first step towards their own goals, whatever they may be.”
Accessibility has also been built into the campaign from the outset. Alongside an audio-described version of the 90-second hero film, NatWest has worked with Snapchat to create a bespoke lens that teaches users how to sign “Good luck Team GB” and “Good luck ParalympicsGB” in British Sign Language. The lens launches on 2 February and will run through the Winter Paralympic Games, reinforcing the campaign’s focus on inclusion alongside inspiration.
Team Talk will run across YouTube, Meta and Snapchat, as well as NatWest’s in-branch and colleague channels.
The film launches on 26 January and is available to watch here.
For further information contact
chelsea.konadu@natwest.com
