Triathlon participation in Namibia was given a further boost with support from leading industry group Pupkewitz Holdings. Through its Pupkewitz Foundation, the group has confirmed its co-sponsorship of the Swakop Half Iron Triathlon and its sponsorship of the Pupkewitz Jetty Mile, which take place on 5 December 2009 and 27 December 2009, respectively.
Pupkewitz handed over a cheque to event organisers OTB Sport for N$37 598 (US$5,025 / €3,370), being the sponsor for the third successive year of the two premier sporting events over the festive season.
The Swakop Half Iron, co-sponsored by FNB Namibia and PUMA, is one of the oldest and most prestigious triathlons in Namibia, with the first triathlon being held in December 1986. Over the past few years there has been a steady build up for triathlon in the country.
Participants have increased from a handful in 2006 to over 100 in 2008, with over 15% of the field being international competitors from countries including Germany, the USA, New Zealand and South Africa.
Event organisers, OTB Sport expects numbers to continue to increase and attributes this to a general worldwide growth in triathlon events, the re-location of the event to the ‘foreshore’, which capitalises on the picturesque setting, and the securing of sponsorship commitments by the Pupkewitz Foundation, FNB Namibia and PUMA.
