Harare, Tuesday, July 6 2021… Bonaqua African Triathlon Union (ATU) partners hosted journalists from various media houses for an online Triathlon media workshop in readiness for the event held on September 25 2021, in Nyanga.
Coca-Cola is the lead sponsor of the triathlon through the Bonaqua water brand. The main agenda for the workshop was to refresh the media about the Triathlon sport and update them on the various COVID-19 measures that will be put in place during the upcoming event.
“Principle is that we follow local requirements and World Triathlon event protocols that include implementing all possible measures for respecting the social distancing and hygiene requirements. World Triathlon is following all the recommendations from WHO. World Triathlon fully respects and supports the initiatives of the LOCs and the National Health advice of each country on this matter. The IOC has advised that during the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, adequate protection of the health and safety of athletes must remain a priority. Under the IOC regulations, event organisers must ensure all athletes are covered by sufficient measures to protect their health and that they have access to prompt medical care while participating in the event. Event organisers have put in place preventive measures to stop the transmission of infection and put in place mitigation measures to minimise disease risk. Event organisers must ensure that any athlete or participant in an event on their territory that needs immediate medical care is given access to medical facilities,” said the event Director Rick Fulton
“We are expecting an international field consisting of elite men and women is expected to register to compete in the Bonaqua ATU, making this years’ edition one of the most significant entries ever for the cup. It promises to be a thriller with stiff competition with athletes from all over Africa and outside the continent, added Rick Fulton.
The ATU Junior Triathlon African Cup will be staged at the same venue, which will see Zimbabwe hosting Junior Elite athletes from Egypt, Tunisia, Mauritius, Namibia and South Africa.
“As the Coca-Cola Company and our bottling partner, Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited, we are pleased to sponsor this event which has been of great value to the country and the athletes. Triathlon has been a good model when it comes to promoting sports tourism,” said Faith Nehanda, Coca-Cola Franchise, Marketing Portfolio Activations Manager, Zimbabwe.
The Zimbabwe Triathlon Association President, David Eliss, thanked the sponsoring corporates who sponsor the Bonaqua Troutbeck African Triathlon Union, such as Bon Marche`, Toyota, Cimas and Rooneys. “It is through such mutual interest and commitment to plough back to the society that together we can develop our sports”,
The workshop was facilitated by Thabani Gonye, The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee President, David Ellis, Rick Fulton, the sponsor representatives.
Apart from the elite and junior races, other supporting events on the day include an African Cross-Triathlon (off-road) championship, Schweppes Corporate Triathlon Challenge, Zimbabwe Triathlon Championships over several events - Tri-Kidz and Trisports triathlon, Aquathlon (run-swim-run) and an Open Water Swim, all under the banner of the Bonaqua Troutbeck Multisport Festival.
The Bonaqua Troutbeck ATU is sanctioned by the International Triathlon Union (ITU), a world ranking point for elite athletes within the ITU ranking system. This means that the points scored by elite athletes will ultimately become Olympic Ranking Qualification points for Olympics 2024.
ENDS
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