A battle between Ironman brand owner World Triathlon Corp (WTC) and Challenge Family is ‘going long’ in Germany. Just before the Christmas holidays, a release was issued by eight local mayors in Germany’s Kraichgau region – the setting for the half-distance triathlon in Kraichgau, which has to date operated as Challenge Kraichgau.
In a joint statement, the mayors stated their preference for a Challenge Family race to run in Kraichgau. This is despite WTC’s acquisition of Kraichgau Sports Promotion UG and Challenge Rügen Sports Promotion UG at the end of October 2013. This deal in October appeared to add a half-distance (Ironman branded) triathlon and 5150 triathlon in Kraichgau.
Klaus Detlev Huge, the mayor of Bad Schönborn, stated in a press release, “The mayors of the 8 triathlon communities in the Kraichgau region are glad to see the great interest from various triathlon event organizers regarding this unique event.
“After constructive conversations with possible new partners we decided based on the regional connection and the broader sport orientation for a long term partnership with the Challenge Family starting in 2015.
He continued, “We are convinced that this decision is in the interest of the athletes, and also in the interest of the many volunteers without whom this massive event would not be possible.”
Challenge Family CEO, Felix Walchshöfer said, “I am very happy that finally all ambiguity and confusion regarding the organization and the future direction of Sparkasse Challenge Kraichgau has been eliminated. Above all, I am happy to provide athletes certainty in their plans; something that has been missing during this unsettled period and, quite rightly, this has upset some athletes.
“Now they are secure in their knowledge that from 2015, they will be racing with Challenge Family. I am sure that under our leadership and with loyal and competent partners such as Sparkasse and Kraichgau Energie, we can shape the future of Challenge Kraichgau together with all the communities, volunteers and athletes.”
At this time it therefore appears that the Ironman brand will not prevail in Kraichgau. As noted by popular German tri site, DNF Is No Option, the Challenge Kraichgau event in 2014 is expected to take place, for contractual reasons, under the Challenge label.
From a parallel contractual perspective, WTC’s acquisition of Kraichgau Sports Promotion and Challenge Rügen Sports Promotion, could mean that the 2014 event would be, albeit indirectly, run by a WTC owned entity.
www.challenge-kraichgau.com
www.ironman.com
www.dnf-is-no-option.com
