BG Group, the global natural gas business and the International Triathlon Union (ITU) announced a new long-term global partnership to help increase world-wide reach, participation and resources for the Olympic sport through to 2014 at a press conference in Madrid on the first of the ITU World Cup event in the Spanish Capital which also will serve as the first of the qualifying events for the 2008 Games in Beijing.

The new partnership, which will last at least until 2014, is unprecedented in the history of triathlon with BG Group placing significant resources and investment to support the sport's global development at both grass roots and elite levels.

The project links one of the leading players in the global energy business with one of the world's fastest growing, diverse and environmentally friendly sports. It provides additional funding of at least $2m per year for the next nine years and the ITU's flagship event series is now renamed BG Triathlon World Cup.

"Today represents an exciting landmark for triathlon as we welcome BG Group to the ITU family," said Les McDonald, president of the ITU. "BG is a company with whom we have a genuine partnership with shared aspirations and their support will help us expand the global appeal of triathlon and achieve our long-term objectives of more athletes representing more flags at future Olympic Games."

Charles Bland, Executive Vice President, BG Group said: "BG Group's commitment is deliberately long term as we intend to help the sport achieve its global objectives at the elite level but also in growing participation at grass root.

"Triathlon appeals to people of all ages and fitness and provides wider social benefits through sport participation as well as leaving a positive environmental footprint.  We have been impressed by the success of ITU to date, in the speed with which they have established triathlon as an Olympic Sport and the culture of commitment, equality and inclusion they have fostered among the athletes and national federations."

In 2006, BG Group funding will boost ITU numbers with three new roles including the appointment of former US triathlon team coach Libby Burrell to head the sport development programme aimed at increasing participation levels across the globe.

The partnership programme will include:

 

* Increase in athlete prize money for World Cup and World Championship events
* Development of new national federation affiliates
* Creation of World Training Camps for athletes
* Increase in number and qualifications of coaches and technical officials
* Support to host triathlon events at all levels
* Support for the development of up and coming athletes
* Appointment of additional ITU staff to support the sport development programme
* Global campaign to raise the profile of the sport

"Having a successful career in triathlon requires support from a whole team of people and organisations," said Britain's Richard Stannard, an athlete representative on the ITU executive board.  

 

"This support is more readily available in some countries than others.  To know that in future, athletes from developing nations could have the same access to top level coaches and events as richer nations can only enrich the sport and guarantee a whole new generation of triathletes."