Israel to Host 2007 BG Triathlon World Cup
Friday, 29th December 2006
The (ITU) has just announced the addition of the Eilat BG Triathlon World Cup in the country of Israel to the 2007 calendar. The event will be held on December 1st, one week before the season finale in Doha, Qatar.
"The ITU family is very much looking forward to visiting Eilat on the 2007 BG Triathlon World Cup tour," said ITU Executive Director Loreen Barnett. "Our friends in the Israeli Triathlon Association have done an exceptional job developing the sport of triathlon in their country. They have been with us since the beginning and we are extremely excited to accept their renowned hospitality in 2007."
The resort-city of Eilat is situated in the south of Israel on the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea. The Israeli Triathlon Association has been hosting triathlon events in Eilat for almost 20 years which frequently attract more then 1,000 participants. Since 2005 Eilat has also been home to a top European Cup event.
"With the unfortunate loss of the Aqaba world cup in Jordan only a month ago," commented Barnett. "We were keen to find another event in the Middle East. We were fortunate enough to have our Israeli friends come forward and propose this beautiful venue."
The Eilat venue, which is less then 5km from Aqaba, has seen many past winners in its 20 year lifespan, including former world champion Leanda Cave of Great Britain and world cup winner Rasmus Henning of Denmark. The Israeli team of twin brothers Ran and Dan Alterman are also frequently seen atop the men's podium.
The race venue will be in front of the Isrotel Hotel, the major sponsor of the event, and will feature a multi-lap race course ideal for the thousands of vacationers, soon to be spectators, who inhabit the city year round.
Triathlon in Israel started 21 years ago and the Eilat race has always been a staple event for the Israeli Triathlon Association. The sport itself has demonstrated enormous growth in Israel from 500 members ten years ago to 2000 members in 2006 and 15 annual events.
The organizing committee will be headed by the Chairman of the Israeli Triathlon Association Chagi Pagirsky Adv. and members of the executive board will take part as event directors. The race director will be Michael Katz, Secretary General of the Israeli Triathlon Association, and race director for all major triathlon events in Israel for the past seven years.
The addition of Eilat brings the 2007 BG Triathlon World Cup calendar to 16 events spanning from March 25th to December 7th.
For more information about this and other ITU events please visit www.triathlon.org or www.triathlon.org.il
Source: Press Release
More info: www.triathlon.org