Kiwi athlete uses Abu Dhabi International Triathlon to raise earthquake relief funds

Monday, 07 March 2011 12:13

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New focus for Kiwi triathlete after Christchurch earthquake devastation

Kiwi triathlete Bryan Rhodes will compete in this weekend’s Abu Dhabi International Triathlon in memory of the Christchurch earthquake victims and is calling on his fellow athletes and the general public to help raise funds to assist the emergency relief efforts.

Rhodes, who hails from the New Zealand city devastated by the recent magnitude 6.3 earthquake, was in Sydney, Australia with his partner Christie Sym when the disaster hit on 22nd February. And the 38-year-old, one of five athletes from New Zealand competing in the flagship Abu Dhabi International Triathlon on Saturday, March 12, is confident that the local community will pool together to help with fund raising efforts.

“The situation is far more devastating than I think most can even imagine; this has changed the lives of those in Christchurch forever. To think the city I grew up in has been reduced to rubble, the roads and trails we have been riding and running on no longer accessible, the pool we train in destroyed,” said Rhodes, a multi-Ironman winner and one of more than 60 elites taking part in the Abu Dhabi event.

“All local athletes that I know have been forced to relocate to continue training, the city is in complete lock down and far too many families have lost loved ones. Christie and I are continuing our training in Sydney in final preparation for the Abu Dhabi triathlon, and will be racing for my home country in memory of those that have lost their lives, their loved ones, and their homes.”

Bryan went on to ask any fellow athletes or triathlon fans who want to help to make a donation at www.redcross.org.nz/donate

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which organises the triathlon, is also asking all attending professional athletes to sign a series of event posters which will be auctioned both at the event awards ceremony and post event via social media sites with all proceeds being donated to the Christchurch Earthquake appeal via the New Zealand Red Cross.

“The very purpose of the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon is about bringing people together to share experiences for a greater good. That is the power sport has, so it makes sense that we use this event to help raise funds for those who need help. We hope that fans of all nationalities pledge their support to this cause and come down to the finish line to cheer on Bryan and his fellow athletes,” said Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Manager, ADTA.

This year’s Abu Dhabi International Triathlon field is almost double that of last year’s inaugural, signalling the event’s and the sport’s swelling appeal from both the Middle East and internationally.

To date, first-timers from Brazil, the Channel Islands, China, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Slovenia, Turkey, Taiwan and Vietnam will take their marks at the Abu Dhabi Corniche start. They’ll line up alongside more than 60 elite athletes – including four-time World Champions Chris McCormack and Craig Alexander and defending champions Spain’s Eneko Llanos and Great Britain’s Julie Dibens.

Saturday’s event will be raced across three lengths. Professionals will contest a 3kms swim, a 200kms cycle and 20kms closing run. The shorter version, at half the length, has a 1.5kms swim, a 100kms cycle and a 10kms run, with both courses eligible for a share of the US$250,000 prize purse.

Also a first for this edition, ADTA has launched a unique ‘sprint’ distance as an entry platform for aspiring athletes. Comprising a 750m swim, 50kms bike and 5kms run, the new ‘sprint’ course is aimed at boosting uptake from novice racers across the Arabian Gulf and can be raced as an individual or as a team.

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