Sir John Ritblat initiated and led British Land as Sole Sponsor for The British National Ski Championships 1978 –2019 – believed to be the longest running sponsorship in British sport. Other snowsport initiatives and sponsorships included: a personal endowment to The Skiers’ Trust of Great Britain “The John Ritblat Home Nations Combined Programme” – to encourage and develop our young skiers and Sole Sponsorship of the British Alpine Racing Teams 2000 – 2002 including additional support for The Olympics 2002.

Vice President of the Tennis & Racquets Association since 2004, Sir John has been a major supporter of Real Tennis and the Real Tennis British Open since 1994, the year which marked the first year Sir John provided sponsorship to the game, and when the very first British Open was held. Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called “the sport of kings” – is the original racquet sport from which the modern game of tennis (also called “lawn tennis”) is derived, and the British Open is held annually each November at Queens Club in London.