ITU Media Release: 21 July 2004

In Salford....Next Stop Athens

Salford, UK: For immediate release: This weekend (Sunday 25 July) will see the world's strongest field of triathletes ever assembled in Salford to compete head to head at the 2004 Countryside Properties Salford Triathlon ITU World Cup presented in association with the Northwest Development Agency, as many International and British triathletes race for the last time before heading off to the Athens Olympics. Joining these athletes racing on the day will be 600 age-group competitors including celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli, ITV1 children's TV programme star Tony Gardner (My Parents are Aliens) and Sir Rocco Forte.

The World Cup swim-bike-run race is one of the UK's top international sporting events and will see 150 elite triathletes go head to head for the last time just days prior to the Olympic Games in Athens. The event will take place over a course made famous by the 2002 Commonwealth Games and last year's ITU Triathlon World Cup, when a crowd of 40,000 turned out to cheer on the athletes in England's Northwest, the home of world class triathlon in the UK.

Les McDonald, The President of the International Triathlon Union comments: "Legacy for cities is important to the ITU, so we are pleased and proud that Salford is hosting its second ITU World Cup in 2004. The city should be satisfied with its achievement of being one of the best organised ITU races in 2003, and the ITU fully anticipate that Salford will raise the bar even higher this weekend."

Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport comments: "The Salford Triathlon ITU World Cup is a shining example of the UK's ability to successfully host world class sporting events year on year. It just shows the skills pool that exists in the UK for putting on such events and I wish everyone involved every success with this year's race."

The course will see competitors swim in the historic Salford Docks, now a major leisure destination and centre of business. It takes in such sites as The Lowry, Imperial War Museum North, Manchester City Centre and Manchester United Football Club during the bike and run sections of the event.

Alan Cherry, Chairman, Countryside Properties, title sponsor of the 2003 and 2004 events comments: "2003 was a fantastic experience for us with a closely fought race held at the breathtaking venue of Salford Quays in front of the magnificent Countryside Properties' NV Buildings. We are proud to continue our title sponsorship of this event and we look forward to continuing our commitments and investment in Salford."

Peter Mearns, Director of Marketing at the Northwest Regional Development Agency is delighted to announce the NWDA's lead sponsorship and comments: "The 2003 ITU World Cup event was a fine example of the great sporting events held in England's Northwest, attracting 40,000 spectators and athletes and beamed to millions through the media nationally and internationally. We are proud to once again support the event which puts Salford and the Northwest on the global map."

2003 saw British athletes compete on home soil for the first time with an English victory in the men's race by Olympian Andrew Johns, who returns this weekend to defend his title in 2004 and hopefully use it as the platform to Olympic gold..

Andrew Johns, 2003 Salford Triathlon ITU World Cup winner and GB Olympic hopeful comments: "It is always a great feeling to race at Salford as the course is superb and you always receive a great reception from the crowd. 2003 was something quite special, to finish in first position on home soil was such an honour - now I have tasted the win I'm hungry for more!"

The field would not be complete without the 600 or so age groupers who race over the same course just before the elites in the 'People's Race.' Athletes are competing across Olympic and sprint distances as individuals and across the sprint distance in relay teams. Some famous names to look out for out are chef Jean Christophe Novelli, the famous chef who stared in Channel 4's "the Games" and ITV1 children's TV programme star Tony Gardner (My Parents are Aliens) who are racing for SPARKS the official charity of the 2004 event.

He continues: “Salford is the only location to host such an event in Great Britain at the moment and it is an honour to be part of the magic of the ITU World Cup.”

Leader of Salford City Council, Councillor John Merry comments: "The 2004 Salford Triathlon ITU World Cup is a real gem in the UK's sporting calendar and we are proud that Salford is hosting the event for the second year running. It gives us a chance to show, not only the people of Great Britain, but indeed the whole world, what a fantastic place Salford is to live, work, visit and of course, race!"

Sir Rocco Forte, international hotelier and patron of the World Cup Triathlon, comments: "I am delighted to continue as the patron at the 2004 Salford Triathlon and further extend my relationship with the event in terms of sponsorship with both The Lowry Hotel and Rocco Forte Hotels. I look forward to 25th July and the challenging day of racing and festivities ahead of us."

Race Director John Lunt comments: "I am very pleased that Salford is once again hosting the only ITU World Cup race in the UK. As one of the last major World Cup events before the Olympics, the 2004 Countryside Properties Salford Triathlon ITU World Cup event is of ultimate importance for those racing in Athens. As a result we have secured a first class field of top triathletes coming from all five continents to go for gold in Salford"

For more information on the Salford Triathlon ITU World Cup, or for further information, visit www.triathlon.org or www.trisalford.info, email info@trisalford.info or call the hotline on 0161 848 8601.

-ENDS-

Tune in to www.triathlon.org for live coverage from the Salford World up starting at 9:00 a.m. GMT.

Notes to Editors: Images available in high resolution JPEG format from the 2003 event, the 2004 event launches in London with Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport and Manchester and of key British and International athletes. 2004 event images will be available from 3:30pm onwards on the day of the event (July 25th, 2004)

Sponsor messages: Countryside Properties, the North West's fastest growing developer of sustainable communities and urban and rural regeneration, has announced its continued sponsorship of The Countryside Properties Salford Triathlon ITU World Cup this July. www.countryside-properties.com

The Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) is responsible for the sustainable economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and has 5 key priorities: Business Development, Regeneration, Skills & Employment, Infrastructure and Image. www.nwda.co.uk

Rocco Forte Hotels: a collection of stylish luxury hotels with individual designs ranging from traditional to contemporary and reflecting each hotel's location. The brand also guarantees good locations, comfortable accommodation, hi-tech conference facilities, exemplary cuisine, the latest in-room technology, friendly service, attention to detail, and health and fitness facilities. www.roccofortehotels.com

The Lowry Hotel: With cutting edge design, stunning architecture and 165 contemporary air-conditioned bedrooms and suites, including the presidential suite, the North West Hotel of the year the five star Lowry Hotel provides a sophisticated riverside base for your visit to Manchester. www.roccofortehotels.com

The £900 million Trafford Centre, in Manchester is one of the most successful shopping and leisure destinations in the UK. It attracted 27 million visitors throughout 2002 and is home to 280 stores, a UCI cinema - the busiest in the UK and one of the largest food courts in Europe known as The Orient. The Centre's owner and developer Peel Holdings PLC has also donated the use of Dock 9 for the swimming element of the Countryside Properties Salford Triathlon ITU World Cup www.traffordcentre.co.uk

Key 103, the official radio station of the Countryside Properties Salford Triathlon ITU World Cup, is Manchester's most listened to radio station with big characters like Steve Penk and Justin Moorhouse, playing the best variety of music in Rock, Pop, Dance and RnB. It's also the home of some of Manchester's most in demand dance DJ's including Graeme Park and Flip & Fill.

The Manchester Evening News is proud to be the official newspaper sponsor of the Countryside Properties Salford Triathlon ITU World Cup 2004

The ITU is the sole worldwide governing body of the Countryside Properties Salford Triathlon ITU World Cup and the sport of triathlon

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