Thousands of children to take part in Tata – Kids of Steel® events across Great Britain
Thousands of children across Great Britain will be taking part in mini-triathlons this year after Tata Steel extended its sponsorship of British Triathlon.
The new three-year agreement will be focused on the children’s triathlon series Tata - Kids of Steel which aims to inspire young people of all abilities to get active and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Some 8,000 children are expected to take part in this year’s series at nine venues across Great Britain – Corby, Scunthorpe, Workington, Teesside and Sheffield in England; Wishaw in Scotland; and Mold, Swansea and Newport in Wales – see below for full list of events and dates.
Myra Rooselaar, who heads up Tata Steel’s corporate responsibility, said: “We are very proud to extend our long-term relationship with British Triathlon as its Community Sponsor. Our continued sponsorship will give children in communities across the country the chance to have a go at a triathlon and experience how much fun sport can be.
“Seeing children complete a mini-triathlon is incredibly rewarding and inspirational, both for the kids and for our many employee volunteers, who support the events. The energy, excitement, enthusiasm and camaraderie is contagious for young and old.”
Current World Champion triathlete Non Stanford said: 'Tata – Kids of Steel® events are fantastic. Children love taking part, regardless of their ability and whether or not they are considered 'sporty.' Every child leaves with a sense of achievement and with a big smile on their face. It is great seeing the next generation being inspired to be fit and active for their whole lives.'
The Tata – Kids of Steel® events are part of Tata Steel’s overall Community Partnership Programme. The events are organised and delivered on behalf of the sport by the British Triathlon Trust in close collaboration with local schools and community sports clubs, giving children a unique, fun and positive experience of sport – regardless of ability or disability – and help to increase self-esteem and confidence
The 2014 Tata – Kids of Steel® series will be visiting nine venues across Great Britain:
- Friday 9 May Corby, International Pool
- Thursday 22 May Scunthorpe, The Pods
- Tuesday 3 June Workington, Leisure Centre
- Thursday 5 June Teesside, Eston Leisure Centre
- Monday 9 June Wishaw (Scotland), Sports Centre
- Thursday 26 June Sheffield, Westfield College
- Friday 27 June Mold (N Wales), Alun Leisure Centre
- Tuesday 8 July Swansea (S Wales), National Pool
- Thursday 10 July Newport (S Wales), International Sports Village
Since becoming British Triathlon’s Premier Sponsor in 2006, and Corporate Partner in 2009, Tata Steel has been instrumental in the growth and success of triathlon in Great Britain. Triathlon is now one of the fastest growing sports in Great Britain, with the elite side of the sport also showing huge success, currently boasting seven reigning world champions. Tata Steel has also helped Britain lobby for Paratriathlon to become a Paralympic sport, with Paratriathlon making its debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The Tata – Kids of Steel® triathlon series has now also grown to become the largest children’s triathlon series in the world.
Tata Steel is Europe’s second largest steel company employing about 18,000 people at sites across the UK.
Since the series launched in 2007, Tata – Kids of Steel® has given nearly 60,000 children from more than 2,000 schools the opportunity to have a fun, positive experience of sport. To date, there have been 100 events, making it the largest and longest-running children’s triathlon series in the world.
Talking about the relationship, British Triathlon CEO Zara Hyde Peters OBE said: “British Triathlon is delighted to be able to announce the continuation of our longest running sponsorship. Tata Steel has been an integral part of the growth of the sport over the last eight years, with support that has flexed and adapted around the sport’s and Tata Steel’s objectives. This is a unique relationship and we look forward to continuing to work together in this extremely exciting period in the sport’s development.”
Tata – Kids of Steel® is a national schools triathlon series for children aged 8 – 13 organised by British Triathlon, in partnership with Tata Steel. All the equipment is provided including bikes and helmets, so children only need to bring their swimming and running kit.
Every child that takes part receives a medal in recognition of their achievement in addition to a T-shirt, swim cap and gym sack.
The children take part in a mini-triathlon in a safe environment – swimming 40 to 60m, a traffic-free cycle of 800 to 1,200m, finished with a run of approximately 400m.
By 2016, Tata Steel and the British Triathlon Federation aim to have given 100,000 children the chance to participate in a Tata – Kids of Steel® event.
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For further information, contact:
Rob Simpson Tata Steel’s Head of Media Relations
T. +44 (0) 207 717 4404 or E. rob.simpson@tatasteel.com
Tom Goldspink British Triathlon Communications Manager
T. +44 (0) 7795 415 452 or E. tomgoldspink@britishtriathlon.org
About Tata Steel’s European operations
Tata Steel is Europe's second largest steel producer, with steelmaking in the UK and Netherlands, and manufacturing plants across Europe. The company supplies products and services to the most demanding markets, including construction, automotive, packaging, rail, lifting & excavating, energy & power and aerospace. The combined Tata Steel group is one of the world’s largest steel producers, with a steel capacity of 29 million tonnes and 80,000 employees across four continents.
About British Triathlon
British Triathlon is the Governing Body for the sport in Great Britain. It is responsible for raising the profile and delivering elite performance for Triathlon, Paratriathlon, Duathlon and Aquathlon in Great Britain. Triathlon is a fast growing, dynamic and modern Olympic sport with talented world-class athletes, coaches and support staff, focused around delivering world-class events and medal winning performances.
Great Britain is home to the 2012 Olympic Champion (Alistair Brownlee) and bronze medallist (Jonathan Brownlee) as well as numerous current world champions www.britishtriathlonmedia.org/current-world-champions amongst a strong squad of world ranked elite triathletes, and emerging talent from our youth development programmes. British Triathlon enables paratriathletes to deliver world-class success, raising the profile of paratriathlon in the build up to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
There are over 850 triathlon events conducted in Great Britain each year including the British Triathlon Super Series, which attracts athletes from all over the world. British Triathlon is committed to being a leader in environmental awareness in sport, protecting the environment in which we operate today and in the future.
British Triathlon aims to promote excellence in our sport, and create opportunities for everyone to achieve their personal triathlon challenges. www.britishtriathlon.org
British Triathlon is a beneficiary of the UK Sport Lottery funded World-Class Programmes (WCP). The programmes focus on performance sport with the aim of achieving sporting excellence on the world stage. Further information can be found on the UK Sport website at www.uksport.gov.uk.
Visit www.britishtriathlonmedia.org for downloadable image galleries, detailed athlete profiles, results, stats and information.
About the British Triathlon Trust
The Trust uses the engaging sport of triathlon to encourage children to become more active, not only improving their health, but also developing their social skills, increasing self esteem and nurturing good habits such as commitment, discipline and respect.
Over 11,500 'active days' delivered in 2013 and targeting over 20,000 'active days' in 2014.
Help the Trust by donating at http://britishtriathlontrust.org/