NEWS

ITU President’s Greeting

By World Triathlon Admin | 15 Jul, 2006

Greetings athletes, officials and guests of the 2006 ITU Triathlon World Championships in the Olympic City of Lausanne.

It is always a distinct pleasure and privilege to return to the Olympic capital.

The World Championships is a major qualifying competition for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and a delegation from the organising committee of the Changping District of Beijing will be with us in Lausanne to watch, listen and learn how to create a magnificent Olympics for us!

They will have the full support of the Lausanne Organisng Committee led by Claude Thomas and Gerald Hagenlocher, both seasoned, hard-working event organizers, and both members of the city police department, arguably the best in all of Switzerland.

To the athletes please find time in your busy preparations for the championships to explore this ancient and modern city.

The Olympic Museum is a must visit place to go and discover the creation of the Olympic Dream both ancient and modern.

Also visit Chateau de Vidy, headquarters of the IOC, a creation of Baron de Couberin, the second president 1906 to 1925, and dont miss the 2000 year old Roman ruins near the Chateau de Vidy.

The cathedral is worth a visit, and a good climb on the bike from Lac Leman.

ITU, your International Federation, has created a sponsor agreement with the BG Group, a worldwide natural gas corporation, who will transfer to ITU investments of up to $2 millon annually for the next 9 years.  You the athletes will be the major beneficiary of this important investment with an immediate increase in prize money to all of the BG Triathlon World Cup events in 2006.

As always, ITU will maintain its pledge to equality for women in our sport, in every item.  We will also continue our commitment to struggle to protect the environment, for racial equality and a cure for the rise in obesity items which are also the principles espoused by our sponsor, the BG Group.

A further commitment to one of our cardinal principles since our creation is the age group athletes.  Come and cheer them on at our 2006 World Championships. 

Find time to thank the officials and the volunteers without them there would be.nothing.

To all athletes, juniors, under 23 years, elite and age-group athletesthe ITU Family!  have a good race, a fun race and enjoy Lausanne, the Olympic City!