Posted: February 16, 2007

Triathlon: Dates Confirmed for Triathlon’s Global Development Programme

VANCOUVER - The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has confirmed its Sport Development calendar for 2007, mapping out a programme of events, specifically designed to raise triathlon coaching standards and support talented and up and coming athletes from around the world. Working closely with their global partner BG Group, a calendar of dates has been confirmed for a series of coaching courses and development camps, as well as events and deadlines for the Team BG Elite Athlete Development Project and new BG scholarship awards. The Sport Development programme was initially unveiled at the 2006 BG Triathlon World Championships as the major component of BG Group’s partnership with the ITU. Today’s announcement brings ITU’s Sport Development alive with a far reaching programme of activity to support developing and emerging national federations’ athletes and coaches in 2007. “We at ITU are very excited to be able to offer these programmes to emerging triathlon nations as part of our sport development goals,” stated ITU Sport Development Director, Libby Burrell. “Thanks to our new global partner, BG Group, we are able to begin setting the foundations necessary to build our sport around the globe.” The new development plans support the ITU’s long term objectives of strengthening its network of national federations whilst establishing new federations to broaden the sport’s geographical reach. The introduction of increased sport development initiatives will support the growth of the sport at grass roots, helping to train new coaches, local club organisers and aid developing athletes in achieving their goals. “Last year we made a commitment to support the development of triathlon and it is extremely exciting to see our shared vision with the ITU being put into action,” stated Sarah Sizer, Head of Marketing, BG Group. “The initiatives which are in place for 2007 will reach hundreds of talented young athletes and coaches across the world, who might not otherwise have had the opportunity or resources to succeed in triathlon.” The confirmed Sport Development Programme dates are: Date* Regions involved Sport Development Initiative Location March 25 All regions TEAM BG – EADP Mooloolaba, AUS March 30 Americas Community Triathlon Coaching Course Port of Spain, TRI April 19 Africa Competitive Triathlon Coaching Course Stellenbosch, RSA May 11 Africa School Education Programme Richards Bay, RSA June 9 Americas Grassroots Programme Vancouver, CAN June 10 All regions TEAM BG –EADP Vancouver, CAN June 25 Oceania Community Triathlon Coaching Course Suva, FIJ July 7 Asia Continental Development Camp Subic Bay, PHI July 7 Asia ITU Level 1 Coaching Course Subic Bay, PHI August 15 All regions BG Triathlon World Junior Camp Budapest, HUN August 15 Europe ITU Facilitators Course Budapest, HUN October 20 All regions TEAM BG – EADP World Cup Belo Horizonte, BRA November Americas BG Triathlon Continental Development Camp TBC November Americas ITU Level 1 Coaching Course TBC November 1 All regions Corporate Triathlon Championships and Conference Cancun, MEX November 30 All regions 2008 BG Scholarships awarded   December 5 Middle East ITU Level 1 Coaching & Facilitators Course Doha, QAT December 7 All regions TEAM BG – EADP World Cup Doha, QAT December Africa BG Triathlon Continental Development Camp Stellenbosch, RSA *Dates are subject to change. Please visit www.triathlon.org for the most up to date schedule. TEAM BG Elite Athlete Development Project (EADP) Each year, there will be four designated BG Triathlon World Cup events with five places for women and five for the men. Following a successful application by a national federation, chosen athletes will be able to attend the events with their national federation coach giving them vital experience at BG Triathlon World Cup level. Continental Development Camps Each year, there will be five eight-day camps in Africa, Asia, Pan America, Oceania and Europe, as well as one world camp. Up to 40 developing athletes aged between 15 and 23 will benefit from coaching from coaches who will be selected by the ITU and the relevant national federation. Coach Education and Resources Novice and intermediate coaches will have the opportunity to take part in the ITU national level 1 course and gain accreditation from the ITU. National federations which already operate their own coaching system will also be eligible to apply for accreditation once submission of their own course material has been approved by the ITU. The coach resources will help increase the number of accredited coaches and ensure the quality of teaching is strengthened across the world. The levels of coach education courses are: Level 1 Coaching, Competitive Coaching, Community Coaching and School Education and Grassroots. BG Scholarship BG Scholarships offer the opportunity for athletes to build towards the Olympic Games, by placing each athlete under special ITU supervision to support progressive development to elite standards. The Package provides a placement within a High Performance Programme, an invitation to the annual BG Triathlon World Junior Camp and funding to match grants obtained by National Federations from IOC Solidarity. About International Triathlon Union The International Triathlon Union was founded in 1989 in Avignon, France and now has over 100 affiliated national federations around the world. Triathlon was awarded Olympic status in 1994 and the ITU is the youngest International Federation in the Olympics. For further information visit HYPERLINK "http://www.triathlon.org" www.triathlon.org About BG Group BG Group is a global natural gas business. Active on five continents in over 20 countries, it operates four business segments - Exploration and Production, LNG, Transmission and Distribution and Power. BG Group seeks to support social and economic development in the communities where it does business by providing structured funding for community initiatives that match its skills transfer theme. For more information, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.bg-group.com" www.bg-group.com