ITU President's Les McDonald Message for 2003 ITU Gamagori World Cup

Athletes, coaches, officials and friends,

Welcome to Gamagori one of the finest events in the ITU Series – which gives valuable qualifying points to athletes who wish to compete in the Athens Olympic Games 2004.

The Gamagori World Cup is established in the dramatic venue of the speed boat racing venue with seats for 20,000 spectators and a live big Television Screen.

As usual ITU’s World Cup will be organized, orchestrated, to the highest degree of perfection by the Japan Triathlon Union.

The host broadcaster Tokai will cover this ITU World Cup with over 20 cameramen and a helicopter, to produce an exciting show which will go immediately to the households in Japan. Japan’s National Broadcaster, NHK will later boadcast the ITU show via satellite.

Dignitaries from the major sponsor “NIDEK” - the world’s leading authority on research into eyes, spectacles and contact lenses, are based in Gamagori. ITU is especially proud to be connected with such an international, ethical corporation concerned with the well being of people the world over. I would also like to thank NTT and Nippon Telephone and Telegram, two other sponsors without whom the event would not be possible. NTT has been supporting triathlon in Japan for more then 10 years.

The ITU Vice President, Mr. Chihara Igaya, IOC Member and Olympic Medallist will be in attendance – as will her highness the princess Hisako Takamado, an enthusiastic supporter of Triathlon and it’s Olympic dream.

I look forward to welcoming all of out ITU athletes, firm in the knowledge from the World Health Organization that the current fears over SARS does not, and has not appeared in Japan at this, or any other time.

See you in Gamagori,

Les McDonald, President

International Triathlon Union (ITU)