Tata Steel has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting and promoting triathlon by confirming its status as the Presenting Partner of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship London, for the second year running.
In addition, the Tata Kids of Steel Children’s Triathlon Series (formerly the Corus Kids of Steel) will increase in size to 18 events across the UK.
As the Corporate Partner of British Triathlon, Tata Steel has been instrumental in the growth and development of triathlon in the UK for the past five years. Tata Steel is ‘proud to be enabling the sport of triathlon, helping British Triathlon to achieve its mission of promoting excellence in the sport and helping everyone to achieve their own personal triathlon challenge.’
Partnership with British Triathlon
The Tata Steel partnership will support British Triathlon through the next Olympic cycle and provide underpinning investment in the whole athlete development and support programme in the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Shaun Doherty, Executive Officer to the CEO stated, “Triathlon is a sport that allows access to everybody, which is a clear statement of unity, and stands for the pursuit of excellence – unity and excellence both being part of Tata’s core values.
“The World Championship weekend in London will give up to 110 Tata Steel and Tata employees the chance to compete in a triathlon on what will be the Olympic venue next year. We will also showcase innovative construction design and engineering with a unique temporary infrastructure hosting a VIP area and seating at the finish line. Something we can be enormously proud of.”
The event, backed by UK Sport’s World Class Events programme, has extra cachet this year as it will be one of only two selection events for the British squad for the London 2012 Olympic Games – the other being the Grand Final of the Series in Beijing.
Many other nations will also be using this event as an Olympic selection event, ensuring a world-class starting line of elite triathletes.
Last year, Tata Steel constructed a unique temporary infrastructure using innovative post-tensioned steel technology to house the VIP area and enhance the spectator experience. Tata Steel will be developing the design this year, challenging both architects and engineers to temporarily transform this public space at a world-class venue for an elite sport.
The event will not just be about the elite competitors. Tata Steel will also be hosting a staff wave in the Age Group Sprint races on the prestigious Buckingham Palace course on Sunday 7 August.
The Tata Steel Triathlon Challenge will enable 110 Tata Group employees to take part in a triathlon and experience the thrill and excitement of competing on the proposed Olympic triathlon course. Employees are also invited to use the event to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, or other charities of their choice.
As Sarah Jolley, Communications Manager of Tata Steel added, “It is such a fantastic opportunity to get our staff involved. Last year we had a team in the age-group events and we will have a wave of people involved again.”
Tata Kids of Steel
Additionally, in 2011, the Corus Kids of Steel Children’s Triathlon Series will be rebranded to the Tata Kids of Steel series. There were 15 events in 2010 and nearly 10,000 children had the opportunity to have a go at triathlon in a fun, safe environment.
Since the series launched in 2007, nearly 25,000 children from over 300 schools have had the opportunity to experience triathlon.
In 2011, there will be 18 events across the UK. As always, the series relies on volunteers to make the events happen with many Tata Steel staff volunteering. In 2012, there will be 24 events across the UK and the company’s target is to have enabled over 50,000 children to experience triathlon since the series launched in 2007.
The Tata Kids of Steel events aim to give every child a positive and fun experience of triathlon, regardless of ability. Every child receives a t-shirt, swim cap, goody bag and medal for participating. Bikes and helmets are provided, and children only need to provide swimming and running kit.
The schedule for this year is shown below:
1. East London, Newham – Weds 4 May
2. West London, Ealing – Thurs 5 May
3. Cambridge – Fri 6 May
4. Scotland 1 – Tues 17 May
5. Scotland 2 – Weds 18 May
6. Teesside – Thurs 19 May
7. Birmingham – Tues 24 May
8. Leeds – Weds 25 May
9. Rotherham – Thurs 26 May
10. North Wales, Mold – Weds 22 June
11. Manchester – Thurs 23 June
12. Scunthorpe – Fri 24 June
13. Kent, Maidstone – Tues 28 June
14. North London – Weds 29 June
15. Corby – Thurs 30 June
16. Swansea – Tues 5 July
17. Bristol – Weds 6 July
18. East Sussex, Lewes – Thurs 7 July
The Tata Steel National Paratriathlon Championships will also be taking place on Saturday 14 May at the National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham as part of the Nottingham Triathlon.
Tata Steel is especially proud of the developments in paratriathlon having supported the British Triathlon Paratriathlon Development Project over the past five years.
The Tata Steel National Paratriathlon Championships is now in its fourth year, and will form part of the new National Paratriathlon ranking series. Tata Steel was thrilled when Paratriathlon became recognised as a Paralympic Sport and will be included in the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
The European operations of Tata Steel (formerly known as Corus) comprise Europe’s second largest steel producer. With main steelmaking operations in the UK and the Netherlands, the group supplies steel and related services to the construction, automotive, packaging, material handling and other demanding markets worldwide.
Tata Steel is one of the world’s top ten steel producers. The combined group has an aggregate crude steel capacity of more than 28 million tonnes and approximately 80,000 employees across four continents.
