The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE usually serene environs of Nyanga will this weekend be a hive of activity with an international field of elite men and women competing in the 2021 Bonaqua African Triathlon Cup Troutbeck at Troutbeck Resort.
The event was officially launched last Tuesday in Harare.
A prime sports tourism event in its own right, this year’s edition will see Zimbabwe hosting junior elite athletes from Egypt, Tunisia, Niger, Mauritius, Namibia and South Africa.
2021 marks the fifth anniversary for Bonaqua Still Water as the official title sponsor, although Coca-Cola has previously supported the event under Schweppes Water.
Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited corporate affairs manager, Ropafadzo Gwanetsa said: “This year marks the 14th edition of the Bonaqua African Triathlon Cup Troutbeck.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we appreciate the professionalism that has been exhibited by the Zimbabwe Triathlon Association (ZTA) which has resulted in the successful hosting of this tournament every year.”
Bonaqua Water is bottled by Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited.
Other partners who are supporting the tournament include Bon Marche, CIMAS, Rooney’s and Toyota Zimbabwe.
Faith Nehanda, Coca-Cola Zimbabwe frontline marketing portfolio activation manager, said: “As the Coca-Cola system which includes our bottling partner, Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited, we are delighted to be able to support local sports development through sponsorships like the Triathlon Cup during these challenging times.
“The Bonaqua African Triathlon Cup Troutbeck is growing with each year, and attracting global athletes.”
Globally, Coca-Cola also sponsors the Olympics and FIFA World Cup.
Rick Fulton, the Bonaqua Troutbeck event organiser, said the Bonaqua African Triathlon Cup Troutbeck is contributing positively towards the development of sports and tourism in Zimbabwe.
“The Bonaqua African Triathlon Cup Troutbeck which is sanctioned by the International Triathlon Union (ITU) is contributing positively towards the development of sports and tourism in Zimbabwe by attracting regional, continental and global athletes,” he said.
The Bonaqua African Triathlon Cup affords World Ranking points for elite athletes within the ITU ranking system.
This means that the points scored by elite athletes will ultimately become Olympic Ranking Qualification points for Paris 2024.
Troutbeck is well known as one of the world’s best resorts for sport and tourism due to the availability of safe, clean, disease and animal free water, good roads within a perfect terrain as well as a friendly climatic environment.
The course is also one of the hardest.
The supporting events of this year’s edition include an African Cross-Triathlon (off-road) Championship, Schweppes Corporate Triathlon Challenge, Zimbabwe Triathlon Championships over a number of events, Tri-Kidz and Trisports Triathlon, Aquathlon (run-swim-run) and an Open Water Swim, all under the banner of the Bonaqua Troutbeck Multisport Festival.
