Details of Corus’ sponsorship at a launch held in Hyde Park, the venue for triathlon at the 2012 Olympic Games, which was attended by the Sports Minister Richard Caborn and several leading British triathletes, including Will Clarke, Helen Tucker, Stuart Hayes, Vanessa Raw, Devon King and Rosie Clarke (pictured with Corus chairman Jim Leng).

Corus’ commitment includes an initial sponsorship for two years, which will invest in medal winning success by British triathlon teams at major events and will help British Triathlon address the competition needs of emerging elite triathletes. 

 

At grassroots level, Corus will support a number of community-based initiatives including nationwide programmes to develop triathlon for school age children through "Corus Kids of Steel" and for athletes with a disability at a community level.

Two young triathletes with real prospects for 2012, Will Clarke, 21, and Helen Tucker, 22, are among the first to benefit from the Corus sponsorship and will receive financial help.  Clarke and Tucker, graduates of British Triathlon’s highly successful world class potential programme, have made successful transitions into the senior ranks and are already achieving success in international competitions.

As part of the agreement British Triathlon will also create a three race series of elite events in the UK in 2007 to be sponsored by Corus and broadcast on terrestrial television. Dates and locations of the events will be announced in due course.

"Today's announcement is excellent news for British triathletes," said Caborn. "This investment will not only help our Olympic hopefuls going for gold in 2012 but will also be used to get more people involved in this fast growing and exciting sport. It's good to see Corus, one of the world's leading suppliers of steel, entering the sports sponsorship market and supporting British Triathlon. I hope it's a long and fruitful partnership."

Jim Leng, Chairman of Corus, said: “We are very excited to be announcing our support for British Triathlon, We believe that there is a good fit between the values of British Triathlon and Corus in terms of our determination to succeed with motivated and passionate people, dedicated to improving performance and delivering a world-class performance.

 

"As a business, Corus has a clear track record in the successful delivery of complex projects including infrastructure, construction and sports stadia and it is our ambition to build on this success going forward. At the same time, though our sponsorship of British Triathlon our investment in triathlon will also be supporting and helping to deliver successful British Triathletes.”

Jasmine Flatters, Chair for British Triathlon said, "Today we reach a significant milestone for triathlon in Great Britain as we welcome Corus as the premier sponsor of British Triathlon. Our partnership with Corus will enable us to raise the profile of our sport further and achieve our mission to establish Great Britain as the world’s leading triathlon nation.

 

"The next six years will be an exciting time for the sport of triathlon in Great Britain and the support being given by Corus will help our talent prepare to become the best in the world during this period.  Their support of grassroots triathlon will help us leverage additional public funding which will provide a long term legacy for the sport that will take us beyond 2012."