BA unveils Olympics campaign featuring Heston Blumenthal

British Airways is launching a campaign featuring its London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games ambassadors, including chef Heston Blumenthal and artist Tracey Emin.

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It is the first time British Airways, the official airline partner of the games, has used its ambassadors to showcase its involvement in paid for media.

The campaign is based on BA’s Great Britons programme, which was launched in 2009 as part of the ailrine’s support of the games. It offers the opportunity to collaborate with Blumenthal, actor Richard E Grant and Emin on a creative project with the airline, in the run up to the London 2012 Games.

A three-month press and online campaign under the strapline ’We can help your talent fly’, invites aspiring chefs, scriptwriters and artists to apply to work with the “Great Britons.” The three featured ambassadors are offering up to five mentoring sessions to each of the winners.

The second phase of the campaign will focus on British Airways-sponsored athletes, including Paralympian Shelly Woods, sailor Ben Ainslie and gymnast Louis Smith. The ads will include the headline “They will fly” and are scheduled to coincide with relevant sporting events in which the athletes compete.

British Airways’ head of brands, Abigail Comber, says: “With just over a year to go until the London 2012 Games it’s a great time to start communicating some of the great opportunities we’re offering, as well as show our commitment to British sporting talent.”

The campaign was developed by BBH with Being handling digital and ZenithOptimedia working on media space.

BA is still to appoint a replacement for head of global marketing Kerris Bright . It is also working on a brand campaign, set to debut later this year.

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