Individuals who pledge to donate £10,000 ($12,000/€11,000) a year over the next four years can become club members and are given the opportunity to get closer to the team in return.

"The Parallel Club offers passionate individuals the chance to get closer to the team by joining an exclusive inner circle of just 30 supporters who together will make a transformative gift to assist our Paralympic athletes and inspire the next generation and, in doing so, help to change perceptions of disability in our society," the BPA said.

Founder members of the club include Nicholas Cheffings, who has been named as chair.

He was formerly global chair of Hogan Lovells, a gold partner of the BPA.

A launch evening saw sports broadcaster and journalist Clare Balding, who will serve as Parallel Club patron, interview British Paralympic stars including 14-time gold medallist Dame Sarah Storey.

Dame Sarah, who competed in swimming before switching to cycling, was joined by equestrian's Natasha Baker, wheelchair racer Kare Adenegan and wheelchair rugby player Steve Brown, with the quartet all becoming ambassadors of the club.