Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship

International Triathlon Union
Press release

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.

Click here for more on the Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series

Visit triathlon.org for more on ITU.

ENDS

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