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ITU unveils details for “Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series”
Vancouver, Canada (December 1, 2008) – The International Triathlon Union (ITU) and its commercial partners SPORTFIVE and UPSOLUT, companies of the Lagardère Group, today announced details regarding its new major series. Dextro Energy will be the title sponsor for the series, now known as the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series.
This series represents an innovative change by creating seven first-class World Championship events and a Grand Final where the world’s best triathletes are competing head-to-head, featuring live television. A record $2-million (all funds USD) will be at stake in the battle to become ITU’s 2009 world champion.
“We are creating a distinct top quality sports product that offers outstanding opportunities for our athletes, sponsors, host cities and TV broadcasters,” said Paul Coleman, ITU Managing Director for the series. “We are delighted to announce that the 2009 events schedule will include some of the world’s most renowned cities.”
The 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series will kick off in Singapore on May 9-10. It will make stops in some spectacular locations such as Washington, DC (USA), Madrid (ESP), Kitzbühel (AUT), Hamburg (GER), and Yokohama (JPN). In August athletes will get their first look at the 2012 Olympic venue as the series travels to London (GBR). The series wraps up with the Grand Final in Gold Coast, Australia on September 9-13.
The year-end bonus pool will be almost triple from previous years, with $700,000 being presented at the end of the series. Each World Championship event will feature a $150,000 prize purse with the Grand final offering $250,000.
“Dextro Energy is very enthusiastic to be accompanying the new worldwide triathlon series as its title sponsor, since we are convinced that triathlon is an up-and-coming sport. It is also an ideal platform to present our brand, as our products provide instant energy to both the body and the mind, thus assuring a higher level of performance and concentration. Furthermore we believe the sponsorship of the Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series will support our worldwide market development endeavours,” said Andreas Romankiewicz, General Manager of Dextro Energy.
“The new series is a significant step forward in the history of the sport,” said ITU Secretary General Loreen Barnett. “Given this is the first year of the series and with the current global economic crisis, this is a very successful outcome. We’re proud to take this series to great cities that have shown tremendous support.”
London Mayor Boris Johnson says, “bringing the ITU Triathlon World Championship Series to London in 2009 is an excellent idea and an opportunity to establish Hyde Park as one of our key Olympic venues. As London builds towards 2012, the World Championship Series will showcase electrifying sporting action against an unrivalled central London backdrop. Londoners and visitors alike will see some of the world's best athletes compete in the heart of London – but they will also be able to have a go themselves at the same venue.”
The Mayor of Washington D.C., Adrian Fenty adds that “Washington, DC extends a warm welcome to the International Triathlon Union in support of its World Championship Series. The District of Columbia is proud to join the partner world class cities and to showcase its ability to produce an Olympic caliber event.”
Striving to encourage growth of the triathlon at all levels, each event will also focus on producing mass participation opportunities for thousands of age-group and lifestyle triathletes.
ITU World Cup events will underpin the series by offering additional high quality events in top class venues across the globe. The World Cups will offer world ranking points and further prize money.
About Dextro Energy:
Dextro Energy is the world wide leader in the dextrose market. In fact, Dextro Energy has stood for generations as a synonym for dextrose. The market was discovered and established over 75 years ago with “Dextro Energen”. In March 2005, the Zertus Group took over the long-standing brand “Dextro Energy” from Unilever. Today the medium-sized company is managed from Krefeld, Germany, under the name Dextro Energy GmbH & Co. KG as an independent, fully-owned subsidiary of Zertus GmbH. Dextro Energy works by providing natural dextrose (also known as glucose) as an additional source of energy, which is easily absorbed into the blood stream and goes directly to the brain and muscles. It delivers instant energy acting as a motor for higher levels of performance and concentration. This functional product promise is well-supported by many scientific studies. Whether it be cubes, sticks, minis, bars or powder – the Dextro Energy range of products provides a rich source of energy and plenty of flavour as well. For more information, visit www.dextro-energy.com/portal.asp
About the International Triathlon Union (ITU):
The International Triathlon Union is the world governing body for the Olympic sport of Triathlon and all related multi-sport disciplines: Duathlon, Aquathlon and Winter Triathlon. ITU was founded in 1989 at the first ITU Congress in Avignon, France and has maintained its headquarters in Vancouver, Canada since then. It now has over 120 affiliated National Federations around the world and is the youngest International Federation in the Olympics. Triathlon was awarded Olympic status in 1994. ITU is proudly committed to supporting the development of the sport worldwide through strong relationships with continental and national federations, working with its partners to offer a balanced sport development programme from grassroots to a high-performance level. For more information, visit www.triathlon.org
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