Posted: April 3, 2006

Triathlon: Kaiser Permanente Announces Three-Year Title Sponsorship of the City of Los Angeles Triathlon

Premier West Coast Triathlon Open to Recreational and Professional Triathletes at All Levels

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 2006--Kaiser Permanente announced today that it has signed on for a three-year commitment to sponsor the City of Los Angeles Triathlon. Beginning with this year's event on September 10, 2006, the City of Los Angeles Triathlon will be titled the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon.

Kaiser Permanente physicians and health professionals will be onsite to meet the basic medical needs of participants for the entire course. Kaiser Permanente will also host the 2006 Health & Fitness Expo at the Marina Del Rey Marriott on September 8 and 9. The Fitness Expo features celebrity athlete appearances, the latest trends in triathlon apparel, technology and fitness equipment along with seminars on training, racing and nutrition.

"We are thrilled Kaiser Permanente is partnering with us for this great event," said Jack Caress, Race Director for the Los Angeles Triathlon. "Participating in an athletic challenge is about committing to total health and Kaiser Permanente exemplifies this commitment in everything they do as an organization," added Caress. "We look forward to a great partnership and are excited about the health expertise they bring to the table. This triathlon will be exciting for the entire family!"

"The Los Angeles Triathlon represents what Kaiser Permanente is all about, encouraging people to take a more active role in their health," noted Jeffrey Weisz, MD, Executive Medical Director of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Physician Group. "Our dedication to quality care extends beyond the walls of our medical centers," added Weisz. "The Triathlon encompasses everything we stand for: commitment, dedication, and a passion for health. We hope the entire family gets involved."

The featured event of the weekend will be the Olympic distance professional race, which is international in flavor. The overall winners last year were Canadian Michael Simpson in the men's division and American Sarah Haskins in the women's division. Designed for athletes at all levels, the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon has a competition level for everyone.

Triathletes can choose between two distances: Olympic distance (swim 0.9 miles; cycle 24 miles; run 6.2 miles) and the Sprint distance (swim 0.4 miles; cycle 20 miles; run 3.1 miles). For the amateur, recreational and first-time triathletes, there are also swim-only and bike-only segments, as well as three-person relay teams. In 2005 nearly 3,000 triathletes from 22 states and nine countries participated.

About the Los Angeles Triathlon
Voted the #1 triathlon by Competitor Magazine, the Los Angeles Triathlon is one of the west coast's premier triathlon events and is the third largest triathlon in the world. Starting in Venice Beach, the event course travels through scenic Los Angeles passing such noted landmarks as the LA County Museum of Art, Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame and the Disney Concert Hall before finishing at Staples Center. For more information or to register for the September 10, 2006 event, log on to LATriathlon.com.

About Pacific Sports LLC
The City of Los Angeles Triathlon is produced by Pacific Sports LLC, a sports consulting firm specializing in event production and management for triathlons, marathons, adventure races, running races and multi-sport events in the United States and Europe. Included among Pacific Sports' more than 400 events are 12 U.S. Championships and the Triathlon World Championship in 1996. In addition to event production, Pacific Sports consults for a number of corporate clients. More information about the Pacific Sports and the City of Los Angeles Triathlon can be found at www.pacificsportsllc.comM.A<.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health plan. Kaiser Permanente's Southern California Region is a nonprofit, group practice prepayment program headquartered in Pasadena, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 3.1 million Southern California members from Bakersfield to San Diego. It encompasses the nonprofit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Kaiser Permanente's Southern California Region includes more than 47,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 5,000 physicians representing all specialties. More information about Kaiser Permanente can be found at www.kaiserpermanente.com.

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