Nottingham’s Downie sisters will make the first leg of their trip to Rio in a Transporter Kombi van thanks to support offered by their home city’s Volkswagen van centre.

Team GB gymnasts Becky (24) and Ellie (16) will head to the airport in the support vehicle donated to them by the team at the Imperial Commercials site, on the Boulevard Industrial site, after receiving backing from the business.

David Starr, head of business at Volkswagen Van Centre Nottingham, said: “We are delighted and proud to support Nottingham’s gymnastic stars. The five-seat Transporter Kombi will have plenty of space for passengers and equipment and we feel sure it will be a comfortable drive for them.

“We would like to wish them lots of success at the Rio Games and will certainly be cheering them on back at home.”

Becky, currently the 2016 European bars champion, competed in the Beijing Games while Ellie, 2016 vault and floor European silver medallist and BBC Young Sportsperson of the Year, will be taking part in her first Games.

Becky said: “It might not be completely obvious by our sporting discipline but we have a lot of equipment and a dedicated support team so getting everything to the airport was becoming a logistical nightmare.”

Ellie added; “We are really grateful to the Volkswagen Van Centre Nottingham for kindly lending us a Transporter, it is simply one less thing to think about so we can keep focused on our training and routines.”