Ironman Triathlon: Legacy, Growth & Future Opportunities in South Africa

1. Sports Portfolio Committee on Sports & Recreation3rd June 2008

2. Agenda • Vision • Ironman & Its History • Difference between Ironman & Ironman 70.3 • Where it all began? • Facts • Ironman in South Africa • Ironman South Africa • Ironman 70.3 South Africa • Tourism Opportunities • Social Responsibility Programmes • South African Triathlon Development • Development Programme • Academy Programme • Achievements • Limitations • World Triathlon Corporation/ International Triathlon Union Dispute • Triathlon South Africa dispute with Ironman South Africa • Drug Free Sport • Recommendations

3. Vision As theComrades Marathonis synonymous, toKwazulu Natal, and theArgus Cycle Tour is to Western Cape,so will the Ironman Triathlonbecome synonymous toEastern Cape

4. Ironman 70.3 1.9 km Swim 90 km Cycle 21.1 km Run Winners 4hrs and 15 minutes Cut Off 8 hours 30 mins Prize Money USD 30,000 Ironman 3.8 km Swim 180 km Cycle 42.2 km Run Winners 8hrs and 30 minutes Cut Off 17 hours Prize Money USD 50,000 IRONMAN …“Anything is Possible”

5. History • International franchise- World Series • The Ironman founder John Collins held the first Ironman race on Big Island Hawaii in 1978 • Ironman - within the past 30 years Ironman grew to a world series consisting of 22 events world wide leading up to the World Championships held in Kona/ Hawaii every year in October. • Ironman 70.3 – saw the launch in 2006 of the new world series consisting of 29 events worldwide culminating in the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Clearwater, Florida, USA in November each year.

6. SA History • Ironman South Africa – • hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay annually • launched in 2004 with 400 athletes and in • 2008 hosting 1500 athletes • offering 30 slots to the world championships in Kona, Hawaii • Ironman 70.3 South Africa – • hosted in Buffalo City for first time - January 2008 • offering 50 Qualifying slots to compete in Ironman 70.3 World Championships • 1000 athletes in its first year • opportunity to be the largest Ironman 70.3 in the world • Ironman SA & Ironman 70.3 SA are the ONLY Ironman & Ironman 70.3 events on the African continent

7. Ironman events in South Africa.. IRONMAN 70.3 18th January 2008 IRONMAN 5th April 2009

8. Ironman Facts • 90,000 people in South Africa alone are able to do these events • Ironman 70.3 South Africa in Buffalo City has the ability to be the largest Ironman 70.3 in the world. • Ironman South Africa in Nelson Mandela Bay likely to be sold out within the next two years. • Ironman attracts huge media attention worldwide • Screened on ESPN; Sky TV; ORF; Canal + • Production distributed to 100 TV Networks via Sports TV Media Distribution, based in Europe • Supersport, SABC News

9. Tourism Opportunities • Event ideal for marketing the Eastern Cape as a preferred destination for Training Camps • Perfect for Europeans – winter period • No change in time zones • Opportunity to do the Ironman 70.3 in Buffalo City and 12 weeks later do Ironman in Nelson Mandela Bay • Sports Tourism for the Province • Internationals staying min 7 to 14 days • Ironman = 193 • Ironman SA - Estimated Spend = R33 Million

10. Social Responsibility • Ironman 4 the Kidz • Operates under a Section 21 Company • Benefitting charities in the Eastern Cape for children • Current beneficiaries:- • Eastern Province Child & Youth Centre • Khayalethu Youth Centre • Quest School of Autism • Ironman raised :- • R11,000 in 2005 grown to • R360,000 in 2008

11. Social Responsibility • Development Programme • South African Triathlon Development • Operates under a Section 21 Company • Started in 2004 • Highly successful • Currently has 32 athletes from previous disadvantaged communities on the programme • Receives funding of R400,000 from the Municipality of Nelson Mandela Bay & Buffalo City • R120,000 from Private Sponsorship

12. Development And Academy Program Presented by Paul Wolff (Race Director/Development Co-coordinator – SATC) Managing Director: Mr. M. Madwara

13. Development Program • Eastern Cape • encourage schools/clubs/gyms • Supplying training programs • identify talented athletes • support with donated equipment Development Program Johannesburg Durban Development Program Western Cape

14. Development Program • Eastern Cape • encourage schools/clubs/gyms • Supplying training programs • identify talented athletes • support with donated equipment Development Program Johannesburg Development Program Western Cape • ACADEMY • Develop elite athletes with professional training • Financial and equipment support • Education to train himself and others • Support in job finding / job models

15. Development Program • Eastern Cape • encourage schools/clubs/gyms • Supplying training programs • identify talented athletes • support with donated equipment Development Program Johannesburg Development Program Western Cape • ACADEMY • Develop elite athletes with professional training • Financial and equipment support • Education to train himself and others • Support in job finding / job models Ironman Team

16. Development Program • Eastern Cape • encourage schools/clubs/gyms • Supplying training programs • identify talented athletes • support with donated equipment Development Program Johannesburg Development Program Western Cape • ACADEMY • Develop elite athletes with professional training • Financial and equipment support • Education to train himself and others • Support in job finding / job models Ironman Team World Champions

17. Structure of Development Program

18. Development Program Mission “To Grow The Sport Of Triathlon By Ensuring Mass Participation By Previously Disadvantaged Communities” (not all these athletes need to have the potential to reach elite status)

19. s Implementation… • Encourage schools to adopt triathlon as an official school sport (as it is an Olympic sport). This can be achieved as follows: • Give assistance by supplying training programs • Assistance to teachers who want to coach the sport • Education the children about the sport – videos, presentations by icons already in the sport: Jabu Mpengesi (first black triathlete in PE). Raynard Tissink (SA Ironman Champion) who makes his living out of the sport. • Athletes in the Academy and the Ironman team can assist with training camps at various schools who have pools.

20. Implementation (continued) • Identify training facilities (with the help of the metro sport officer) in different areas where athletes can go to for coaching lessons – swimming, cycling and running. • Target Lifesaving clubs/gyms - athletes who want to start triathlon who can already swim. • Use the media to educate the public about the program and the services provided by such a program. • Local Time Trial/ Development races will be regularly organized for these athletes to have the opportunity to race against each other and other established Triathletes.

21. Implementation (continued) • Discounts will be negotiated for entry fees into local races for these athletes. • At local and National races we will have a booth to collect second hand triathlon equipment (helmets, shoes, clothing, goggles, etc.) which can de distributed to the development Triathletes. • Implement a structured coaching course, based on the Austrian system (Coach of Olympic Champion – Kate Allen). Different levels of coaches can thus be trained.

22. Academy Mission …. “To develop Elite Triathletes who can partake and compete on the world stage in both the Olympic and Ironman distance races”

23. Academy Structure…

24. Academy Implementation. • To identify athletes from the development program and local/national races who show genetic potential to become elite triathletes / duathletes. • These athletes will receive triathlon specific equipment (Bikes, Clothing, Shoes etc.) as far a budget constraints allow. • These athletes will be supported financially to participate both locally and abroad. (Jabu)

25. Implementation. • SATD will attempt to procure jobs for these athletes that will enable them to train effectively (Jabu, Hanson, Deon – work for SATD) • These athletes will sign a yearly contract which should run for three years as this is how long it takes an athlete to reach peak performance. The only time the contract will not be renewed is if the athlete does not live up to his potential or he voluntarily wants to leave the program • These athletes will be educated by enrolling them in the Coaching Levels program. This will enable them to become Qualified coaches who can earn an income as such.

26. Limitations • Funding • Minimum cost : R30,000 per athlete. • Development Officer : + R100,000 per annum

27. Development Team Racing Overseas.

28. Achievements… • 2004 – 2 athletes took part in the Half Ironman, all completed race • 2005 – 5 athletes took part in the first full Ironman, all completed the race • 1 athlete competed overseas in the Ironman Austria • 2 of the athletes raced in the Half Ironman Monaco • 2006 – 18 athletes took part in the IMSA full distance, 16 completed the race • 1 athlete competed in Ironman Western Australia • 2 athletes qualified for ITU world championships, but did not attend due to lack of funds. • 2007 - 20 athletes took part in the IMSA full distance, 19 completed the race. • 1 athlete competed at the Ironman 70.3 St Polten in Austria • 2 athletes represented SA at the World Duathlon Championships in Hungary. • 2008 – 32 enrolled development athletes • 23 athletes took part IMSA 70.3, 21 completed the race • 3 athletes qualified for IM70.3 World Champs in Clearwater Florida – looking for funding • First 2 Female Ethnic South Africans to finish Ironman 70.3, Zandile Daniels and Fundiswa Mbande • 25 athletes took part IMSA full distance with only 2 DNF • First 2 Female Ethnic South Africans to finish Ironman, Zandile Daniels and Fundiswa Mbande • 6 athletes got Eastern Province colours for Triathlon. 3 of these qualified to go to World • Championships in Canada, but were unable to due to lack of funding.

29. Achievements - Academy time improvements from 2007 to 2008

31. WTC/ ITU Dispute

32. World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) Est. 1978 Ironman Distance – 3.8km Swim; 180km Cycle & 42.2km Run Ironman 70.3 Distance 1.9km Swim 90km Cycle & 21.1km Run International Triathlon Union (ITU) Est.1989 Sprint Distance 750m Swim 20km Cycle & 5km Run Olympic Distance 1500m Swim 40km Cycle & 10km Run Long Distance 3km Swim 80km Cycle & 21km Run WTC vs.. ITU

33. WTC vs.. ITU • Long time dispute • Dispute settled between parties in 1998 • “ITU shall not either directly or indirectly, impose or threaten to impose sanctions on any athlete, organisation or entity participating in or involved with the WTC’s Ironman World Championship on the basis of this event title. ITU will discourage and use its best efforts (including but not limited to the withdrawal of good standing in ITU) to prevent member national federations (this would include, inter alia, TSA), imposing or threatening to impose such sanction”.

34. TSA/ Ironman SA Dispute

35. TSA vs. Ironman SA • TSA sanctioned Ironman SA in 2004 and 2005 at a cost of :- • R25 per athlete • Included costs of referee’s • 2006 sanctioned the event up until11th hour before the event and then withdrew their sanctioning – “citing ITU directive” • 2007 – refused sanctioning. TSA advise Drug Free Sport that Ironman SA is not a sanctioned TSA event and Drug Free Sport refuse to drug test top winners (places the event status in jeopardy) • 2008 – agreed to sanctioning at their determined fee of :- • license fee = R50,000 (Ironman) + • Registration fee = R200 per athlete • Potential cost to IRONMAN SA = R450,000 - 900% increase !! • referee’s cost not included • other operational and logistical pre-conditions prescribed by TSA

36. TSA vs. Ironman SA • Ironman SA refuse the prescribed sanctioning conditions on 13th August 2007 after meeting and corresponding • TSA feel it their right to write to the Ironman sponsors on the 8th November 2007. • “Triathlon South Africa regret to advise you as the main sponsor that the abovementioned events scheduled to take place on 13th January 2008 in East London and 13th April 2008 in Port Elizabeth, have not been sanctioned in terms of Section 6(1) of the National Sport and Recreation Act (110 of 1998) Thereby TSA can not fulfil its obligations as national federation, nor assume any responsibility with regard to the safety issues of the event….”

37. TSA vs. Ironman SA • November 2007 – Ironman SA engage attorneys and senior council to protect their interest. Letter sent to all sponsor responding TSA’s accusations • May 2008 – Ironman receive an e-mail from TSA ….

38. TSA vs. Ironman SA • “TSA received the following correspondence from Alison Buchell, Chief Director : Client Support, Liason, Events and Facilities – SRSA: The portfolio Committee of the National Assembly is concerned about events held and organised by commercial operations without any reference to their federation. SRSA recognises national federations, in this case TSA, in line with the definition in the National Sport and Recreation Amendment Act for the sport of triathlon and related multi sport events, as a national governing body of a sport or recreational activity in the Republic recognised by the relevant international controlling body as the only authority for the administration and control of the relevant code of sport or recreational activity in the Republic….”

39. Recommendations

40. Recommendations • SRSA intervene • Triathlon South Africa (TSA) • WADA (Drug Free Sport) • TSA – working relationship of co-existence and respect for each bodies rights • Ironman SA is prepared to pay R25 per athlete, including Internationals (non-TSA registered athlete competing) • Ironman SA is prepared to recommend that all SA athletes competing are members of TSA • TSA - not interfere in the running of any Ironman event

41. Thank you for your time