She will be responsible for overseeing the design of both the athletes kit and also for a range of fan wear for the sportswear company.

For the first time in the history of the Summer Games, the deal will see a top fashion designer work with a leading sports brand to design competition wear for both the national Olympic and Paralympic Teams.

Adidas, which has designed and provided performance enhancing kit to Team GB since 1984, approached McCartney about the role of Creative Director to ensure that British athletes at London 2012 don’t just have the best performance kit but the most stylish too. As a result, Adidas will continue to develop the most innovative technical products available with the creative design input of a British fashion icon.

Sports fans can now get in on the act as well with a special Adidas Team GB lifestyle range designed exclusively by Stella McCartney. The range will launch in autumn 2010 and will incorporate both women’s and menswear collections.

This appointment is a new development for McCartney who already designs a women’s sports-inspired performance range for the brand – adidas by Stella McCartney.

The company has agreed funding and support for the League, as well as product and player support throughout the organisation. Coloplast have also provided the integral backing of one of their trained Nurses, in order that the Elite team have a specialist on board during training and events. In return, GBWR will provide advertising and product profile on its new website, together with branding and product integration into the year’s sporting activities.

Looking forward, GBWR and Coloplast continue to build on what has already been a successful partnership, embarking on a new journey which will lead both organisations towards and beyond the Paralympic Games.

“We are delighted that Coloplast have decided to continue their support for GBWR. It is a key year for us, and Coloplast’s backing provides crucial resources and a like-minded partner that we can work with in a mutually beneficial way to further each other’s sporting and business aims.” said GBWR CEO David Pond.

“We are very pleased to continue to be involved with GBWR. We respect the new management team and fully support their goals to be medal winners at the Paralympic Games and also to develop the organisation sport at grass roots level via the Coloplast League. To be part of this phase of GBWR’s development is both enjoyable and important to us.” said Simon Grant at Coloplast.

The GBWR league will continue to be called, The Coloplast League, and will give teams across the UK the opportunity to compete to be UK wheelchair rugby league champions for the year. The new season will commence after the World Championships in Vancouver which take place in September.

The 42 year old had both legs amputated following an awful accident in Germany in 2001 while he was racing in the Champ Car Series. He returned to racing after just two years in a specially adapted race car and has most recently been competing  in the World Touring Car Championships where he drives for the BMW Italy-Spain team.

This year he has also taken up hand cycling in earnest, having competed in the 2007 New York marathon where he finished fourth, Zinardi has set his mind on a place in the Italian hand cycling team and has recently been in Italy for the Para-Cycling Road World Championships.

He came 15th in the individual time trial, only one place below his Italian compatriot and rival Giovanni Achenza as he continues towards his dream of competing in London in 2012.