Jul 2, 2013
This Sunday July 7th will see the 1st Elite Triathlon Event take place in Ireland since the European Championships were hosted in Athlone in 2010. This afternoon, members of the Triathlon Ireland Junior High Performance Squad joined with Charles Lawn Waterways Ireland (Inspector of Navigation) to launch this year’s event.
A strong Irish Squad, led by Con Doherthy (Bronze Medallist at the Junior World Championships 2012) will be challenging for European Cup medals on home soil for the first time ever. It promises to be an exciting spectacle, with the genuine stars of the future battling it out in the River Shannon and on the streets of the Midland’s Town for European Honours.
Irish Junior Elite Squad headline Waterways Ireland triAthlone 2013
L-R: Aichlinn O’Reilly (Mayo), Kieran Jackson (Waterford), Harry Speers (Bangor), Con Doherty (Mayo), Aaron O’Brien (Limerick) ’
The Sunday event takes place in the backdrop of the ever-spectacular Waterways Ireland triAthlone series of races that includes the Kinetica Sprint Distance Championships and Irish Paratriathlon Championships for 2013.
2012 Olympian Gavin Noble leads the field and is favourite to be crowned Champion this year, but certainly not without a challenge. With almost every county in Ireland represented and up to 15,000 spectators expected to line the streets, Athlone is gearing up for yet another great event.
The hosting of the Paratriathlon Championships places this fast developing side of the sport centre stage in Athlone. Para athletes from across Ireland and UK will take part and compete for the title of Paratriathlon Champion. Triathlon Ireland is confident many of the athletes competing will develop and represent Ireland in the 2016 Para Olympic Games in Rio.
Waterways Ireland TriAthlone have developed a free and downloadable App for 2013 event iDevices. The goal was to give triathletes all the information they need to compete in the 2013 event, with access to training tips, our twitter feed, and LIVE timing for users so they can track athletes as they make their way around the course! Just search by race number or name!
Speaking about the event, Chairman Liam Heavin said: “We are delighted to be bringing elite racing back to Athlone where it belongs! This has been a team effort and couldn’t be achieved without the support of Waterways Ireland and Athlone Town Council. We would like to encourage as many people as possible to come along and support the event this weekend – and especially to take in all that the elite races have to offer & cheer on Team Ireland!”
This year’s Waterways Ireland triAthlone event will be supported by title sponsor Waterways Ireland, with significant support also provided by Athlone Town Council. John Martin, Chief Executive Waterways Ireland said; ”Waterways Ireland became involved with TriAthlone, recognising the potential of the event to generate huge awareness for the inland waterways on the island and internationally and impact on the numbers of people using the waterways recreationally. Now one of the fastest growing sports in Ireland, I commend the committee for their dedication and hard work in bringing not only an Elite event back to Ireland but also its inclusiveness in hosting the Paratriathlon Championships”
Waterways Ireland triAthlone begins with a swim in the River Shannon, from which the competitors will then take to their bikes for a cycle through south County Roscommon before the exciting town-centre run which will see the event finish in the heart of Athlone.
For further information www.triathlone.com
EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday 5th July 2013
18.00-21.00 Registration is open for all athletes.
18.30-19.00 Practice Swim from Athlone Boat Club Saturday 6th July 2013
10.00: Registration is open for all athletes.
12.30: Registration is closed for all athletes.
14.00: Race briefing at transition for all distances.
14.15: Transition is cleared.
14.30: SuperSprint Triathlon starts.
Followed by Irish Paratri Championships
Followed by the Kinetica Sprint Distance Championships
EVENT INFORMATION
Triathlon is Ireland’s biggest and fastest growing sport.
Waterways Ireland TriAthlone will host the Paratriathlon Championships this year.
Waterways Ireland TriAthlone will host the Kinetica Sprint Distance Championships
2010 saw a records number of entries received for the competition – 4,000 participants (75% male 25% female).
In 2013 there will be over 1,500 participants.
The event generates significant revenue for Athlone and the surrounding region.
Over 15,000 spectators are expected on race site
Waterways Ireland, title sponsor for the event manages and promotes the inland navigable waterways for recreational purposes.
ROAD CLOSURES
triAthlone would like to encourage people to pre-plan shopping activities for Saturday to avoid the potential traffic disruption or alternatively access the Town Centre from the East side on during race times on Saturday and Sunday. Please note that all businesses remain open as normal. We will endeavour to have the roads reopened as soon as possible. See www.triathlone.com for full details of road closures and areas affected.
MEDIA CONTACTS
WATERWAYS IRELAND TRIATHLONE:
Emma Heavin – Press Officer
085-116 4028
emma@triathlone.com
TRIATHLON IRELAND
Scott Graham – Development & Media Officer
086-3687548
scott@triathlonireland.com
Jul 2, 2013
This summer Asgard Media in association with Livestream Digital are offering for the first time in Ireland, a sports specific broadcast training course. The course which will predominately be online, but also includes one intensive week of practical training will run for 8 weeks with online classes running on Sunday evenings and weekly assignments. The practical element of the course will run from August 3rd to August 10th in Dublin and see participants deliver a number of live online broadcasts.
The course is designed to cater for those interested in pursuing a career as a freelancer within the Sports Broadcasting industry and upon successful completion of the course participants will be afforded introductions to line managers who hire within the industry as well as a database of Sports Broadcasting contacts. Each candidate completing the course will also receive a showreel and a consultation with The Production People’s CV Service, to ensure they are ready to kick start their career in sports broadcasting.
Modules offered on the course include the following, with participants permitted to pursue two specialist modules.
Commentary For Radio, TV and Online
Presenting For Radio, TV and Online
Reporting For Radio, TV and Online
Producing For Radio, TV and Online
Directing For TV and Online Video
Course Director Ciaran Ó hEadhra a veteran of many major sports broadcasts from Formula 1 Racing to Championship GAA believes the course provides a great platform for the development of new sports broadcasting talent, ” I’ve been fortunate enough to earn a living for many years covering sport. I’ve gained a tremendous insight during that time into all aspects of Sports broadcasting, working with some of the best on air and technical talent available and this course is a great chance to develop the next generation of sports broadcasting professionals. There’s never been a course particularly targeted at catering for the sector and it can only benefit the industry to provide a resource like this”.
Course Schedule
Online Lectures & Tutorials
July 7th
July 14th
July 21st
July 28th
August 4th
August 18th
August 25th
Practical Components
Saturday August 3rd to Saturday August 10th
Tuition fees for the course are €1500 and registration forms can be obtained by e-mailing training@asgardtv.com
Read More Here
Jul 1, 2013
Irish energy provider Airtricity have become the title sponsor of the Dublin Marathon. The agreement which will see the event name being changed to the Airtricity Dublin Marathon, also includes the ‘Race Series’, a number of shorter races taking place throughout June, July, August and September, before the main marathon on the 28th October.
Dublin Marathon attracted over 14,000 runners in 2012 and is expected to generate over 10 million euro for the City and County of Dublin over the October bank holiday weekend.
Airtricity Dublin Marathon race director Jim Aughney said, “We are delighted to have Airtricity on board as our new title sponsor this year. Airtricity shares our vision and aims for the growth of the Dublin Marathon. It is a huge endorsement of what we have achieved to date, and strong support for our development plans, to have such a sponsor involved. Airtricity has a great history of supporting events in Ireland and we look forward to developing a long-term relationship with them.
Airtricity’s Managing Director Stephen Wheeler added, “As someone who ran my first Dublin Marathon in 2011, I’m delighted that Airtricity is the new energy behind this well-loved Dublin and national sporting event. Airtricity is a proud supporter of all Irish Sport at all the various different levels. Through our investment as title sponsor of the Airtricity league, as official energy partner to the FAI, and its international teams, and as a supporter of local sports clubs nationwide through our wind farm community funds, we’re doing more to give back to local and national Sporting clubs and events. Now through our sponsorship of the Airtricity Dublin Marathon, we’re helping to support the marathon and race series at this important stage in its development and growth.”
Karl Henry, well known fitness Expert and TV Broadcaster said, “It is great to see Airtricity come on board and give the Dublin Marathon a huge boost ahead of this years event. With over 14,000 participants last year, the marathon and race series is a fantastic way to get out and get fit. With today’s boost, hopefully more and more people will sign up and ensure that the 2013 Airtricity Dublin Marathon will surpass last years level and create new records.”
Read More Here
Jun 28, 2013
You Are Invited to the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund Roadshow
Croke Park, Dublin
Tuesday, 2nd July at 12 – 1.30pm
You are invited to a free motivational talk on ways to build activity into your existing routine by fitness expert and TV personality Karl Henry at 12pm in Croke Park on Tuesday, 2nd July. A complimentary light lunch will be provided.
The free event is being run as part of the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund Roadshow, which is travelling to Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick to promote fitness and nutrition, and to spread the word about the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund.
The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund is this year giving €125K to non-profits including sports clubs on the island of Ireland. It aims to support local non-profits which are implementing programmes in their communities that encourage people to live more balanced, active and healthy lifestyles.
For further details on how to apply for funding or about this free event, visit www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou. Entries for the Fund will be accepted up until the 19th of July 2013.
To reserve your free place at this event please email cillian@q4pr.ie or contact Cillian Murphy on 01-4751444.
Jun 28, 2013
The hosting of major sporting events is becoming a global growth market, but a report from the Federation’s English equivalent, the Sport & Recreation Alliance (the “SRA”) has found that governing bodies of sport are thinking twice about bidding due to the financial risks attached to the process.
The report shows that 67 per cent of the UK’s NGBs see the risk of investing into the – often costly – bidding process as the main obstacle to launching a bid. Bidding for major events has become increasingly competitive, as hosting an event is often seen as providing three benefits; a financial boost for organisers, increasing a sport’s profile and improving facility infrastructure.
For the report, SRA anonymously asked the chairs and chief execs of the biggest sport governing bodies in the UK about their experiences of bidding for major events. Half of all respondents also said that the government – both at central and local level – was not doing enough to support bids.
Andy Reed, SRA chair, said: “Our research has shown that the financial risk of holding major events is holding some governing bodies back.” Major events is a global growth market that is out there for the taking – greater local authority support as well as the government putting their proposed Major Events Bill into action would really help the UK to exploit the big opportunities that are out there more.”
The issues raised by the SRA Report are interesting ones in light of the Government’s stated intention in the Programme for Government to prioritise event tourism and indeed, the discussion taking place around a possible Rugby World Cup Bid.
There can be little doubt that the successful bidding for sports events requires close co-operation between government both national and local and sport. The Federation has in the past pointed to the model used in Denmark, Sport Events Denmark, which is a joint venture between government and sport and specialises in bidding for sports events. Sport Events Denmark is now successful in 2 out of every 3 bids it makes.
Read More Here
