UNITED STATES OF AMERICA based Zimbabwe triathlete Andie Kuipers is set to headline the 16th edition of the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup Troutbeck, which is scheduled for February 17will be staged on the 17th of February in the Nyanga resort town of Nyanga.
Africa’s most decorated Olympian, who is also Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport, Kirsty Coventry, was the guest of honour at the official launch of this year’s edition of the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup Troutbeck, lauded Triathlon Zimbabwe for their sound administration that has seen them continue to be the trendsetter in the country when it comes to attracting substantial corporate sponsorship.
This year, 2024, being an Olympic year, Zimbabwe, which did not have any representation in the Elite category the previous year, is set to be represented by Kuipers, who wants to garner some points to qualify for the summer games set for Paris, France.
The 2024 edition has been hit by the cholera scare, affecting not only Zimbabwe but many other countries in Southern Africa. But this has kept other participants from countries determined to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
The multi-sport festival has 30 confirmed global and regional Elites and junior athletes from Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Japan, Ireland and South Africa.
Guest of Honour Minister Coventry, speaking at the event’s media launch, was still impressed with the confirmed number of athletes despite everything around the cholera scare.
“It’s impressive (confirmed number of countries and participants) considering this is an Olympic year. I recognize the number of countries returning, so it’s a huge success point for the Triathlon Zimbabwe (TZ). It shows that there is a lot of trust and faith in them in hosting this tournament,” she said.
One of Coventry’s mandates as the Minister of Sport is to ensure national sports associations adhere to corporate governance and put their houses in order. The 40-year-old celebrated Olympian could not hide her joy at the success that TZ has scored, underlined by the huge corporate backing the annual event still enjoys 16 years on.
“I would like to thank the triathlon team, which is made up of volunteers, parents, non-parents, and friends of friends of triathletes. They are an incredible group of people who give their time, drive up to Nyanga to be there and be there for all of us, to host all the foreign guests is just incredible,” she said.
“It is great to see a sporting code leading in this manner. Only a few sporting federations are doing this. They need to bring together people. I cannot name several sporting federations where it’s chaos; no parents are willing to support them, and no volunteers want to come and support their events. They deserve a round of applause for the work they are doing.”
Coventry implored sporting federations to respect tenets of good governance like what the administrators of triathlon are doing so that they can also attract corporate sponsorship.
“The sport is growing in Africa, and this comes back down to national federations being run with good governance and good people who want to better their sport. The sponsors can see that, that’s why there are so many sponsors sitting in this room. I don’t see this number of sponsors sitting in the room at other national sporting federations. I have heard you talk about Zimbabwe triathlon’s value to your brand by being governed well and bringing such events to the country.”
“We appreciate all the sponsors and the commitment they bring to make our Zimbabwe triathlon event a success. We look forward to growing it.
“We are using the Zimbabwe triathlon as a role model for other associations. I am imploring all the other associations to reach out to Zimbabwe Triathlon, get their experience, and understand how they put together their things so that their athletes can attain the best possible victory.
Coventry took media members, triathlon stakeholders, and sponsors down memory lane: “I remember swimming in the first open water at the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup in Troutbeck, which was long ago. I hate open water because it’s cold. I probably swam very fast. However, the event has now become a huge place for the community within the different sponsors for their employees to participate. The community within Zimbabwe and the triathlon community. This is one thing that sport allows us to do: bring people together and share experiences.”
She further hailed the event’s uniqueness: “The unique thing about the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup is that it allows us to watch elite athletes and participate on the same course as the elite athletes and pretend that we are still elite athletes.”
Zimbabwe’s best hope for a podium finish, Kuipers has deferred her studies to try and concentrate on qualifying for Paris. This did not escape the attention of Coventry.
“Andie, all the best of luck. We are all behind you. We appreciate that you have deferred a semester, and I know you have been training very hard to try and qualify for the Olympics. We also wish all the Zimbabwe and the international athletes all the best of luck at the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon event.”
Representing the title sponsors, Coca-Cola Franchise, Marketing Portfolio Activations Manager, Zimbabwe, Barry Otieno, pledged to continue to support the annual event.
“It is a great privilege and honour to be the title sponsor of the Bonaqua Africa Triathlon, a global event sanctioned by the International Union. Bonaqua, being a water brand, suits the event well and resonates magnificently with the natural surroundings we experience in Troutbeck.
“The Bonaqua brand has grown with Triathlon Zimbabwe as the official title sponsor. This alone demonstrates our commitment and celebration to sports development in Zimbabwe,” he said.
This year’s event is loaded with multi-sport activities that include corporate challenge, aquathlon, mountain biking, open water swimming and many more.
Triathlon Zimbabwe president Ross O’Donoghue thanked the title sponsor and all the associate sponsors.
“I am thankful to our sponsors who have walked with us through thick and thin. Bonaqua, the title sponsor, Cimas’ iGo, CFAO, Rooney’s Events, African Sun, Troutbeck Resort, Ecocash, and Simbisa, your support has been immense. As a body, we have continued to grow, and we are delighted that our sponsors’ catalogue grows with us; this year, I would like to announce and welcome the arrival of MCM Legal to the sponsors’ basket. We sincerely hope they will enjoy the experience and the partnership for this event”.
“We would like to thank MCM Legal and the entire sponsor group for their support and commitment to this high-profile event,” he said.
Elite athletes competing in the event get world ranking points for the International Triathlon Union (ITU) ranking system. This means that the points scored by athletes will ultimately become Olympic Ranking Qualification points,” said O’Donoghue.
