The British Athletes Commission (BAC), which represents more than 1,500 of Britain's Olympic and Paralympic athletes, has joined forces with the Professional Players Federation (PPF).

Set up in 2004, BAC

's mission is to ensure that UK athletes in world class performance systems train and compete within a "fair, supportive and transparent system". The organisation is a funded partner of UK Sport.

The PPF is the national organisation for the professional player associations in the UK and was launched in 1991.

The new partnership aims to strengthen the position of BAC athletes within professional sport in the UK.

PPF is also active outside of the UK and campaigns for the rights of players to be recognised, promoted and protected within European policy discussions at EU level.

Ian Braid, CEO of BAC, said: "It's an exciting time for British sportsmen and women and this new partnership between the BAC and the other professional sports will help to further our aim of promoting and protecting the welfare of all athletes both during and after a career in sport."