Posted: February 6, 2004

Triathlon: Ironman Community Fund athletes to be part of the Ironman North America team

Additional Community Fund spots available for Ironman NA events in the U.S.

CLERMONT, Fla.-Ironman North America, organizers of seven Ironman and Half-Ironman events in the U.S. and Canada, is proud to announce the creation of the Ironman North America Triathlon Team.

Tied directly to the Ironman North America Community Fund, the Ironman North America team concept acts as a reward to athletes who have contributed to the Ironman Community Fund. Once an Ironman North America event is full, athletes are given the option of purchasing a Community Fund spot at that event for $1,000.

The Ironman Community Fund provides a financial opportunity for Ironman North America to help those in the community who support our events, with a heavy emphasis on providing sports opportunities for children.

"Athletes who purchase Ironman Community Fund spots have helped Ironman to make a very positive impact in our host communities," said Ironman North America President Graham Fraser. "One of our goals for this season was to create an Ironman North America Team, and what a great way to do so by combining it with our Ironman Community Fund."

The primary focus is to provide kids with the opportunity to excel and/or compete in athletics of all kinds. Money is targeted to a specific function within that sport so that its effects are felt directly by the participants. Through these efforts we hope to provide more opportunity for young people to compete in athletics of all kinds. Ironman North America reserves the right to amend or change this policy as they see fit. Community Funds are also distributed via aid station volunteer groups. Volunteer captains of aid stations at each event allocate community funds to charitable organizations within the community.

Long-term goals of the Community Fund also included capital community projects for long-term Ironman North America host sites.

The Ironman North America Team will also feature a group of professional athletes as team members. Pro team members will be announced at a later date.

All athletes who purchase an Ironman Community Fund spot for an Ironman North America event will automatically be a member of the Ironman North America team. As a team member, athletes will receive a logoed racing uniform and other apparel and will receive special seating at Ironman North America banquets. A special function will also be set up for Ironman North America Team athletes at each event with professional Ironman North America team members.

For more information on the Ironman North America team, contact Sue Fraser at communityfund@ironmanusa.com.

Ironman North America has opened up 50 more community fund spots at each of the five full-distance Ironman North America events. Community Fund spots fill very quickly, so athletes who are interested are urged to sign up quickly to avoid being closed out. For more information, or to register, log onto http://www.ironmannorthamerica.com/commfund/index.html

If you need further information, contact the Ironman North America Athlete Service Center at (352) 243-0948 or via e-mail at admin@ironmanusa.com.