Youngest Olympic Sport Celebrates Reaching 54 Countries In First Year Of Global Triathlon Partnership With BG Group

VANCOUVER - The youngest and one of the fastest growing Olympic sports is celebrating the first anniversary of its global partnership with BG Group.  The nine-year, $20million partnership between the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and BG Group, which began one year ago, has already witnessed significant development of the sport at the organisational, elite and grass roots levels, including:

§         Ground-breaking Global Sport Development Programme with 25 annual events in place;

§         BG Triathlon World Cup Series with increased prize money;

§         112 new coaches from 24 countries attended ITU coaching courses working towards accreditation;

§         Team BG – Elite Athlete Development Programme, BG Scholarships and training camps have benefited more than 425 athletes and coaches;

§         Support for the development and hosting of new ITU events;

§         Resources for training new officials and hosting regional training seminars;

§         Addition of eight new staff members.

Led by Libby Burrell, Director, ITU Sport Development and her team, the programme has already reached 54 developing and emerging national federations as well as supported new countries in establishing athletes, events and media presence, the three pillars of the ITU Sport Development Programme.  The ITU’s 110 national federations also now benefit from the new Coach Education system which offers resources and an internationally recognised accreditation system.   Burrell’s team helps to develop junior athletes, increase coaching standards and support elite athletes at Olympic qualifying events.

With additional human and financial resources in the past year, ITU has witnessed a record level of international attention and athlete participation for its BG Triathlon World Cup series.  International media and television exposure has grown exponentially since the introduction of the new ITU Media and Television plan put in place a year ago.

Loreen Barnett, ITU Executive Director said:

“This first year with BG has exceeded our expectations.  By focusing on the three founding pillars of our agreement – Athletes, Events and Media – together we have brought our sport to a new level.  We are very fortunate to have a partner such as BG Group, one that is determined to aid us in expanding the reach of the sport and develop the resources and structures to grow triathlon around the world.”

Charles Bland, Executive Vice President, BG Group, said:

“It is immensely encouraging to see the progress that we have made together in developing the sport of triathlon and the benefits this has brought to many of the communities where we operate around the world.  Particularly pleasing has been the wide reaching nature of the partnership, with sport development events in locations such as South America, China, South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago.”

2006 World Champion Tim Don, said:

“I’ve been following a number of the Sport Development Programme athletes who train near my base in South Africa and can see the difference this partnership is making to individuals like Mari Rabie, who was awarded a BG Scholarship and recently won the South African Triathlon Championships.

It’s really fantastic to see so much support from ITU and BG.  Our sport is definitely moving full steam ahead and hopefully this will be reflected by new nationalities taking part in future BG Triathlon events and the Olympic Games in years to come.”