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Patong, where sport usually comes via television, wins a triathlon

Phuket Gains Olympic-Style Triathlon for Patong

Monday, September 3, 2012
PHUKET: Hot on the heels of the London 2012 Olympics, the Governor of Phuket together with the Absolute World Group, International Sports Events Consulting and the International Triathlon Union, announce Phuket will host the Absolute Phuket ITU LD World Series Triathlon 2013.

One of only eight in the prestigious ITU Long Distance World Triathlon Series, the Phuket Triathlon will take place May 4-5 in Patong.

The event expects over 600 athletes including top professional athletes, Olympians and World Champions who will line-up alongside amateurs to participate in Phuket's first ITU triathlon event, the Absolute Phuket ITU LD World Series Triathlon 2013.

The Absolute Phuket ITU LD World Series Triathlon 2013 is strategically positioned in the global triathlon calendar, at the beginning of the Europe and US seasons, and will attract many elite and amateur triathletes to compete in Phukets warmer climate, together with a large showing from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Korea, Japan, Australia and Thailand. More than 25 countries will be represented in the first year.

May also coincides with the beginning of Phuket's low season and the influx of athletes, friends and families, likely to total more than 2000, will be a welcomed addition to what is traditionally a quieter period for Phuket's hospitality industry.

''Leading cities around the world are targeting international sporting events as part of their corporate social responsibility strategies and with our commitment to health and fitness within our resorts and organisation the Absolute World Group are proud to bring the ITU World Triathlon Series event to Phuket.

''Showcasing the Island to participants, families and friends, and to the world through dedicated TV broadcasts in more than 120 countries worldwide.'' commented Bryan Lunt, Chairman of the Absolute World Group.

The Absolute Phuket ITU LD World Series Triathlon 2013 will take place over the weekend of May 4-5. Consisting of three disciplines - swim/ bike/ run - the two days will include a number of distances and race formats, including Sprint (750m/ 20km/ 5km), Olympic Distance (1.5km/ 40km/ 10km), team relay, celebrity relay and ITU Kids.

On Sunday May 5, the main event will be the Double Olympic Distance race (3km/ 80km/ 20km). The course runs though Phuket's stunning coastline and west coast beaches of the Andaman Sea.

Athletes start with an open water swim off Patong Beach, transition to their bikes and race south past Karon Beach to Kata Beach, and back - a technical and hilly route, where one lap is approximately 25km. The run is a flat road race around Patong, heading south along the beachfront, with one lap approximately 5km.

The finish will be on Bangla Road, in the heart of Patong.

Thailand Triathlon Champion and the event's Race Ambassador, Jaray Jearanai, will be racing in the Absolute World Group team alongside some of the best triathletes in the world representing Thailand and carrying the hopes of his home province of Phuket.

There will be Elite and Age Group categories, with world ranking points available and a prize in excess of Euro 30,000 (approximately 1.3 million baht).

''Phuket will be among one of eight iconic global cities selected to be part of triathlon's largest world series and the Absolute World Group is proud to have secured this great opportunity for Phuket, to be a part of the ITU World Triathlon Series, and to position Phuket as a world-leading sporting and tourism destination,'' added Lunt.

Registration will be launching on the 1st November at www.ituphukettriathlon.com

About the Absolute World Group
Founded in 1998, the Absolute World Group of companies has grown strategically to become one of Asia's leading and multi award winning lifestyle property development, resorts & hotels, and destination club brands. With a sales force tactically positioned across China, Europe, Hong Kong, Russia, Thailand and Bali, the Absolute World Group offers a seamless range of services within the world lifestyle vacation industry inclusive of a highly successful Destination Club, boasting thousands of members, award-winning self and partner developed resorts, Real Estate, pioneering Fractional Ownership division, now offering Motor Yacht ownership and a successful lifestyle magazine series.

The Absolute World Group are dedicated to promoting a healthier lifestyle through their program Holiday Smarter, Holiday Fitter which includes an online fitness series, sponsorship of international sporting events, sporting ambassadors and a long standing companywide bootcamp initiative for their staff.

About the International Triathlon Union
The International Triathlon Union was founded on April 1, 1989, at the first ITU Congress in Avignon, France, and the sport's first World Championships were held in Avignon in August 1989. More than 800 athletes representing 40 countries competed in the first World Championships.

Although founded in Avignon, ITU has maintained its headquarters in Vancouver, Canada since its inception and has since grown to include over 120 affiliated National Federations around the world. ITU began the World Cup series in 1991, staging 11 races in eight countries. The Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championships Series was created as ITU's top tier race series in 2009, staging eight races in eight different countries. The ITU Long Distance Triathlon is a brand new series for 2013.

Triathlon was officially added to the Olympic Program by the IOC at its Congress in Paris in 1994. Triathlon made its Olympic debut at the 2000 Games in Sydney, with Switzerland's Brigitte McMahon and Canada's Simon Whitfield earning the sport's first gold medals.

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One more reason to get off my backside and get back out on the road bike.

Posted by mike on September 3, 2012 15:41


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