The England 2018 World Cup bid committe has appointed BT as an official partner.

The deal incorporates financial and marketing support from BT and also allows marketing rights as an official England 2018 World Cup bid partner.

Gavin Patterson, chief executive of BT Retail, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be the first major consumer partner to support the bid to stage the 2018 FIFA World Cup. BT is extremely passionate about backing national initiatives that have the potential to bring so much enjoyment and business opportunities to our shores. As such, it’s only fitting that BT should be involved in this campaign.

“Access to communications services, especially high-speed broadband and IPTV, would be absolutely crucial to allowing people to watch the games and associated news and events. This decision, along with our current involvement in London 2012, demonstrates BT’s deep resources and capabilities to provide some of the most vital services and expertise for the world’s greatest sporting events.”

England 2018 chief executive, Andy Anson, added: “The support of BT is an extremely significant step forward for us as it shows tremendous confidence in England’s bid. BT’s association with London’s successful 2012 Olympic campaign shows there is a real understanding of a bidding process and all it entails. We are delighted to be working with a communications partner who can provide support and advice in a critical area of the technical bid we make to FIFA and in marketing the bid domestically and internationally.”

BT has a strong history of involvement with UK sport, having signed on as the official communications services partner for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. BT is also the title sponsor of the BT Paralympic World Cup, the largest annual multi-sport disability event in the world, and was the first commercial partner of the British Paralympic Association in 1989.