Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) launches Collins Cup App for live and on-demand content and anncounces further broadcast deals

•  LIVE SECOND SCREEN DATA FEED WITH LIVE HEART RATE AND REAL TIME DATA TO COMPLEMENT APP
• HIGHLIGHTS DEALS ANNOUNCED IN CHINA, SOUTH AFRICA, THAILAND, VIETNAM AND MALAYSIA
• THE COLLINS CUP WILL BE DISTRIBUTED IN OVER 165 TERRITORIES IN DEALS STRUCK BY PTO AND IMG

LONDON, ENGLAND: The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) today launched the Collins Cup player across web, IOS and Android and has revealed details around its live integrated data proposition.  The app which is available across IOS and Android on both smartphones and tablets will showcase The Collins Cup broadcast live* and on-demand where the question ‘Who Rules Triathlon?’ finally gets answered.

As well as the live broadcast, the player includes access to the PTOs premium content library including the newly launched Collins Cup Countdown shows hosted by Charlie Webster, with guest appearances from Collins Cup team captains. Beyond Human and Battle For Glory, two of the PTO’s flagship content offerings that go behind the scenes of the world’s greatest triathletes, are also available.

The Collins Cup player, which is now available to access via the Collins Cup website or to download across the Apple store and Google Play, will sit alongside an integrated live data feed which will be available on the day of the event on the 28th August. The data feed will incorporate real-time positional data, split times, photos and video and can be accessed via the PTO website here.

The PTO’s own Collins Cup OTT content offering sits alongside multiple live broadcaster deals that have already been arranged by the PTO and IMG including an exclusive live deal in Europe with Discovery Eurosport, beIN SPORT, FujiTV, Sky Sport New Zealand and Fox Sports Australia. The PTO has also secured deals for a 1hr highlights programme with BT Sport in the UK, Tencent in China, SuperSport in South Africa, Astro in Malaysia, 3BBTV and TrueVision in Thailand and VEION and FPT in Vietnam. Further broadcast deals in Singapore, Canada, USA and South America are to be announced in due course.

In total The Collins Cup will be distributed in more than 165 territories, with live commentary in 21 different languages, to a combined household reach of over 365 million.

Tim Godfrey, Chief Marketing Officer at PTO, said: “The Collins Cup is a watershed moment for the sport of triathlon so we wanted to showcase this moment live to as many people globally as possible. With the launch of The Collins Cup player and live data feed alongside groundbreaking broadcast deals brokered by us and our media rights partner IMG, this promises to be one of the most watched professional triathlon events ever. The best 36 triathletes from around the world going head to head in a brand new team format – you do not want to miss it!”.

Download and sign up FREE to watch live matches, exclusive content, live shows, replays, highlights, features and electric archive footage.

• Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.protriathletes.pto_app
• Apple:  https://apps.apple.com/us/app/collins-cup/id1536985219
• Find out how to watch The Collins Cup in your country 

*Live broadcast globally available on The Collins Cup player, excluding in Europe where the live broadcast will be exclusively available on Eurosport 2, the Eurosport player and Discovery+ in selected markets.

2021 Ironman World Championship canceled

 Due to rising Corona infection numbers: 2021 Ironman World Championship to be postponed to February 5., 2022. Hawaii is currently experiencing the strongest Corona infection wave since the beginning of the pandemic. The World Championship is now scheduled to take place in February 2022.

Principle of hope
The race in February is likely to pose challenges, especially for age group athletes and also professional athletes from Europe. The form must be brought or built up over the winter, despite optionally closed sports and swimming facilities. In addition, the Sword of Damocles of "Lockdown 4.0" hovers over all qualified athletes.

Press release

2021 EDITION OF IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 5, 2022 DUE TO CONTINUED GLOBAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC. 2021 Supersapiens IRONMAN World Championship postponed based on continuing COVID-19-related impact to Island of Hawai`i. 

IRONMAN in conjunction with local Hawai`i officials announced today that due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic to the Island of Hawai`i, the 2021 Supersapiens IRONMAN® World Championship has been rescheduled from its originally scheduled October 9, 2021 race date to February 5, 2022. Like 1982, we expect that there will be two editions of the IRONMAN World Championship in 2022 (February and October).

“The resurgence of the virus and new Delta strain has had significant impact on the island community of Hawai`i. Combined with substantial border closures and travel restrictions for qualified athletes, there is not a viable pathway in October to host the IRONMAN World Championship,” said Andrew Messick, President & Chief Executive Officer for The IRONMAN Group. “After extensive consultation with governmental and community leaders in Hawai`i, we believe that the best course of action is to delay the event until February of 2022.” 

“We have worked closely with local and state Hawai`i officials and other key event stakeholders, and are aligned in the imperative to protect our local community by shifting planning efforts to a February race date,” said Diana Bertsch, Senior Vice President, World Championship Events for The IRONMAN Group. “Our local community, athletes, partners, volunteers, and all other members of our `ohana -- who represent our Hawaiian roots and history -- feel pride and confidence in this difficult decision. We will work towards welcoming our athletes back to the Island of Hawai`i in February with the racing experience for which the IRONMAN World Championship is famous.”

“We are honored to work alongside the fantastic IRONMAN staff, amid a global pandemic, to reach an equitable solution that ensures our island’s premier sporting event may persist at a later date,” said Hawai`i County Mayor, Mitch Roth. “Since the first race in 1978, the event has become an integral part of our county’s global identity, and we look forward to welcoming the athletes and spectators from around the world to our shores once again when it is safe to do so.”

“The IRONMAN World Championship is an iconic part of our Hawai`i Island community and history.  For over 40 years, our community has supported IRONMAN and cheered on participants from all over the globe.  In return, IRONMAN has continued to support our community during these challenging times.  I am deeply grateful for IRONMAN’s $1,000,000 commitment to feed our residents in need throughout 2020 and 2021 with their Kahiau Together program. As IRONMAN continues to mālama and truly care about our island community, we look forward to welcoming the IRONMAN World Championship back in 2022 with our full support,” said State Senator Dru Mamo Kanuha.

The pandemic has greatly impacted the Hawaiian community not only through deadly cases of COVID, but also significantly hurting the local economy due to limited tourism opportunities. As the impact of the pandemic was felt in our home community where our staff and many volunteers live and work, a targeted initiative, Kahiau Together, was created alongside the IRONMAN Foundation in July 2020 to support locals who were suffering due to food insecurities. By years end, the Kahiau Together initiative will have hosted 25 events locally, serving over 132,000 meals through the distribution of food bundles of locally sourced fresh proteins, fruits, vegetables, and starches. An additional $30,000 in grants from the IRONMAN Foundation has been provided to non-profits feeding their communities. Those needing support can attend one of the following upcoming events:

Wednesday, September 1 – Kamehameha Park

A Meal Fit for a Queen – Celebrating the birth month of Queen Lili`uokalani

Monday, October 4 – Kona International Marketplace

Heroes of Hawai`i

Monday, November 22 - Kona International Marketplace

Thanksgiving Bundles

Monday, December 20 - Kona International Marketplace

Christmas Bundles

IRONMAN Athletes who are registered for the 2021 edition of the IRONMAN World Championship triathlon will be contacted directly. For more information and event details for the IRONMAN World Championship, please visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship. 

There are no material changes in qualifying for professional or age-group athletes for the 2022 IRONMAN World Championship. Additional information on the Kahiau Together initiative, schedule of events, grant applications, and how to support these efforts, visit www.ironmanfoundation.org/kahiau-together.