SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY Australia 2015

1. About Triathlon in Australia

Triathlon came to Australia in the early 1980s after developing mainly on the West coast of the USA in the mid to late 1970s. In May 1986 at Broadbeach (QLD), the Triathlon Federation of Australia was formed as the National Governing Body of the sport, now known as .

Triathlon Australia became a founding member of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) upon its formation in April 1989 in Avignon France. The first ITU World Championships were also held in Avignon in August of that year. The distances chosen - 1.5 km swim 40km cycle and 10 km run – were the equivalent of the longest Olympic pool event, the standard international time trial cycling distance and Olympic running track event, became known as the “Olympic Distance” triathlon.

Australian Success

Australian athletes have had a rich success in sport since the early days, when Greg Welch won the Elite Male World Championship title in Florida 1990, followed by Miles Stewart in 1991 on the Gold Coast (images below). won successive championships in Muskoka Canada in 1992 and Manchester in 1993.

From that year on Australia’s dominance of the sport has continued with 19 World Championship titles, and more at U23 and Junior level over the years with the likes of , Peter Robertson, and more recently Charlotte McShane, Gillian Backhouse and Jacob Birtwhistle winning World Championships.

Australia hosted the first ever Olympic Triathlon event in Sydney 2000 and has won a medal at every games since (Michellie Jones Silver 2000, Silver 2004, Emma Snowsill Gold 2008, Erin Densham Bronze 2012). Australia has had the same success at having won medals at every competition (Miles Stewart Silver and Bronze 2002, Brad Kahlefeldt and Emma Snowsill Gold, Peter Robertson Bronze 2006, Mixed Relay team Bronze 2014).

TRIATHLON AUSTRALIA Sponsorship Proposal 2 April 2015

ITU World Triathlon Championships Elite 1990 – 2014

19 x Gold 16 x Silver 13 x Bronze

ITU World Triathlon Championships Under 23 & Junior 1990 – 2014

7 x U3 Gold and 9 x Junior Gold 8 x U23 Silver and 13 x Junior Silver 2 x U23 Bronze and 10 x Junior Bronze

ITU Long Distance World Championships Elite 1996 – 2014

4 x Gold 5 x Silver

ITU Duathlon World Championships Elite 1992 – 2014

8 x Gold 2 x Silver 7 x Bronze

IRONMAN World Championships Elite 1994 – 2014

11 x Gold

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships Elite 1994 – 2014

5 x Gold

TRIATHLON AUSTRALIA Sponsorship Proposal 3 April 2015

2. About Triathlon Australia

Triathlon Australia (TA) is the official National Sporting Organisation responsible for the management and delivery of the sports of triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and multisport within Australia.

Our Mission

Our mission is to ensure the existence of quality participation opportunities and pathways within the sport of triathlon in Australia through achieving key objectives across each of our six area of our operation: Organisational Excellence, Participation, Membership, Events, High Performance and Brand.

Our Values

Respect - Health – Enjoyment – Belonging - Respect

We have eight official members, known as the State and Territory Triathlon Associations. We work closely and collaboratively with the STTA’s to achieve objectives across the whole of sport and work together on various projects and initiatives.

In addition, we have approximately 21,000 individual annual members and 180 affiliated triathlon clubs across the country. We work closely with various stakeholder groups to ensure that opportunities exist for people of all ages and abilities to take up the unique yet achievable challenge of triathlon.

Why we are unique

There are many variations of a triathlon or multisport event that can be done as an individual or as part of a team. It is a sport for life due to the unique ‘age group’ concept of the sport allowing people to compete in 5-year age categories from 20-24 all the way to 80+yrs – so everyone will participate at the same event, on the same day regardless of their age or ability.

In addition, the sport attracts a diverse representation of the community, catering for people with a disability, families, women and kids through the provision of friendly and safe events, and welcoming club environments.

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3. Our Annual Members

We are here to look after the individual members of our sport – these are the people who regularly participate, volunteer and give back to the sport by joining the National association and triathlon clubs. Via our membership database and regular surveys, we understand who are members are:

v 63 per cent male v 80 per cent aged between 25-54 years old v 6% of our members join as a family v 3 out of 4 members live in a metro area v 36 per cent have a gross annual income between $100,001 and $180,000 v 27 per cent have a gross annual income of over $180,000 and over v Almost 60 per cent if members have participated in at least ten triathlon events in the last three years v 90% of members join a triathlon club

Growth in our sport and our members

Triathlon is one of the fastest growing Olympic level and mass participation sports in Australia. Over the last few years, we have been able to measure this by collecting sport participation data, and we have seen significant growth in our membership.

2011/12 season – 2012/13 season growth

• 19% growth in membership & 19% growth in participation in the sport

2012/13 season – 2013/14 season growth

• 45% growth in membership & 13% growth in participation in the sport

STTA MEMBERSHIP FIGURES (2013-2014)

ACT QLD 4% 22% NSW 31%

VIC 12%

NT SA 3% WA TAS 4% 22% 2%

TRIATHLON AUSTRALIA Sponsorship Proposal 5 April 2015

4. What we do?

A partnership with Triathlon Australia is a great way to align with the sport of triathlon and communicate to over 21,000 active participants throughout Australia. Whilst we can a range of flexible sponsorship and partnership opportunities, here is an overview of the activities that provide opportunity for alignment:

High Performance Program

The Triathlon Australia High Performance program has a vision of “Sustained International Success”. While it’s mission is “to create a winning environment which provides Australian triathletes and coaches with the opportunity to be continuously successful at and major ITU international competitions”.

The program operates via a network of State Institutes and Academies of Sport, National Performance Centers, State Performance Centers, and the National Talent Academy, whereby athletes and coaches are placed, supported and classified.

Paratriathlon

We fully support the inclusion of people with a disability across all aspects of our sport, however we feel it is important to highlight the growth and relevance of paratriathlon as a unique element of our sport.

Paratriathlon has recently been added to the Paralympic games program for Rio 2016 and due to this, we have developed a strong paratriathlon pathway program from participation to an elite level. The Triathlon Australia High Performance Plan is fully inclusive of the athletes, coaches, support staff and stakeholders in the Paralympic Paratriathlon pathway.

Technical Officials & Coaches

The Technical Program is made up of over 450 officials who progress through training courses and regularly volunteer at events each year. Technical officials are provided with uniform that must be worn whilst out on the field of play, often making them very visible and customer facing ambassadors of our sport.

Similarly, we accredit over 450 coaches each year through our Coach education program, providing ongoing education courses, seminars, materials, communication and uniform. Coaches are able to progress from a grass roots level (club & community), through to competitive age group and junior level (Development/Performance), through to top world-class level (High Performance).

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National Calendar & Major Events

We work closely with event organisers to provide them with the opportunity to submit expressions of interest for the conduct of events in the National Calendar. The aim of the process is to ensure that the events designated as part of the National Calendar provide a well organised, safe and consistent race. In addition offering high quality experience and competition with our five core brand values of health, enjoyment, belonging, achievement and respect at the heart of the event.

The National Calendar consists of the Australian National Championship events and the Australian Age Group Qualifying events. The calendar is designed to span all states and territories to promote and create fair and equal opportunities for members to participate.

We hold event agreements with event organisers of National Calendar events to ensure that standards of delivery, branding and marketing are met.

Age Group World Championship teams

Each year we take a team of athletes to the ITU World Age Group Championship events across Sprint distance, Standard distance, Long distance, Duathlon, Cross triathlon, and Paratriathlon events. Teams vary in size, and our largest team is typically 600 athletes. Athletes must qualify to gain selection onto the team by racing in our qualification events throughout the year. Team members receive Australian uniform and race suits, specific campaign communication, travel and accommodation assistance and welcome team management functions while at the event.

Selection onto the team is a highly prestigious achievement, and something that many athletes aspire to do.

Membership communication, marketing & media

We own and operate the following channels of communication to promote our sport and our membership to the triathlon community, and the broader Australian public:

v A National website (triathlon.org.au) with approx. 5,000 monthly visits v Social media channels including Facebook (+8,000 likes), Twitter (+2,600 followers), and YouTube (+120 subscribers). v Regular EDM’s o Members only quarterly (21,000 subscribers) o TRI Life community newsletter monthly (+35,000 subscribers) v A full time Media relations manager. v Print and distribution of National Calendar and membership brochures – distributed via STTA’s at events and to all members v Print and distribution of the Triathlon Australia Annual Report

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TRYstars Junior Development program

TRYstars is Triathlon Australia’s national “first touch” junior participation program for 7-12 yr olds that encourages kids to get involved in Triathlon all around Australia. TRYstars is based on action packed swim, ride and run games delivered during up to 8 x 1 hour sessions and ensures kids of all skill levels and abilities between the ages of 7 and 12, achieve success. TRYstars is available exclusively through accredited Triathlon Australia “TRYstars” Clubs and is delivered by Triathlon Australia Accredited TRYstars Coaches.

The TRYstars Program is the only “first touch” National junior sport participation program in Australia which addresses all FUNdamental movement skills, i.e. agility, balance, coordination, speed, running, jumping, gliding, buoyancy, throwing, catching, kicking and hitting.

Annual Awards Evening & Annual Conference

Each year we host the Celebration of Champions Annual Awards dinner, attended by a number of key sporting stakeholders, VIP’s, athletes and members from the Australian and international triathlon community. The night includes the presentation of the annual awards, and induction into the Hall of Fame. The evening always coincides with a major event on the triathlon calendar and has taken place at the following locations:

v 2011 (inaugural event) ITU Dextro Energy , Sydney NSW v 2012 ITU Dextro Energy World Triathlon Series, Sydney NSW v 2013 ITU World Cup and Continental Cup race, Mooloolaba QLD v 2014 IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championships, VIC v 2015, ITU World Triathlon Series, Gold Coast QLD

We host a bi-annual National Conference where we bring together key stakeholders for a one day or two day networking and learning experience. Locations vary to coincide with an event.

5. Why partner with us?

A partnership with Triathlon Australia is ideal for organisations wishing to:

• Align with our values of HEALTH, ENJOYMENT, ACHIEVEMENT, BELONGING and RESPECT. • Partner with a highly regarded and reputable national governing body in Australia • Be clearly positioned as a company that supports equal opportunities • To align with the unique demographic of Triathlon Australia membership database • Exposure to 180 affiliated Triathlon Clubs

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6. Next steps

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this potential partnership with your organisation in more detail.

For further information, please contact us on the details below:

Kate Gallop National Manager, Communication and Projects 02 8488 6200 [email protected]

TRIATHLON AUSTRALIA Sponsorship Proposal 9 April 2015