The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
PARTICIPANTS for this year’s edition of the world class tourism sports event – the Bonaqua Troutbeck African Triathlon Union contest – must brace for a more competitive event, given the envisaged increase in the number of athletes, organisers have said.
The event is set to be held on April 1, in Nyanga.
The Bonaqua Troutbeck African Triathlon Union (ATU) is sanctioned by the International Triathlon Union (ITU).
It is a 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 Olympics 2024.
Speaking to sports journalists at a Bonaqua Troutbeck African Triathlon Union media workshop held in Harare this week, event organiser, Rick Fulton, said: “It promises to be a thriller with stiff competition following an increase in the number of participants. An international field consisting of elite men and elite women is expected to register to compete in the Bonaqua African Triathlon Union (ATU), making this year’s edition one of the biggest entries ever for the cup. Athletes are coming from Africa and outside the continent.”
Speaking during the same function, Faith Nehanda, the Coca-Cola franchise, marketing portfolio activations manager, said: “Coca-Cola and Schweppes through the Bonaqua brand are happy to invest in sports. Globally, Coca-Cola sponsors various sporting events including FIFA World Cup and the Olympics.
“We are proud of our nine-year relationship with the triathlon sport in Zimbabwe. We have sponsored the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup that takes place at the Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga for three years with Schweppes water and are in the sixth year with Bonaqua, making it at the prestigious event on more than 60 percent of the times since inception 17 years ago.
“One of the key reasons that inspires us to continue with the partnership is the professionalism exhibited by the Triathlon Association of Zimbabwe and the organisers of this jam-packed action-filled sport Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup multi-sports festival.”
The triathlon contest combines swimming, cycling and running.
The agenda for the workshop was to refresh the media about the triathlon sport.
The workshop also looked at the 2023 edition of the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup.
Other corporates who also sponsor the Bonaqua Troutbeck African Triathlon Union include African Sun, CFAO Motors, Cimas, Ecocash and Rooneys.
Apart from the elite and junior races, other supporting events on the day include an African Cross-Triathlon (Off-Road) Championship, Cimas 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.
This year marks the sixth anniversary for Bonaqua still water as the official title sponsor, although Coca-Cola has been involved with the sport for nine years with Schweppes water.
Bonaqua Water is bottled by Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited on behalf of Coca-Cola.
