FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 20 September 2016
THE PROFESSIONAL TRIATHLETES ORGANISATION ANNOUNCES THE CREATION OF THE COLLINS CUP, APPOINTS WASSERMAN
LONDON AND BOULDER, CO: The Professional Triathletes Organisation (formerly the Professional Triathlon Union) today announced the creation of The Collins Cup, a first of its kind global competition in which teams of professional triathletes from the USA, Europe and the rest of the World (the “Internationals”) will compete to determine which region dominates the sport of triathlon.
The PTO has appointed Wasserman as its sole and exclusive agent and executive producer of The Collins Cup. Wasserman will handle all aspects of the event, including negotiating TV rights, sponsorships, host city bidding and selection and operating the event. Rich Allen, Executive Director of the PTO, commented that, “We are very pleased to be able to announce The Collins Cup to celebrate the sport of triathlon and honour John and Judy Collins, who 40 years ago were instrumental in founding the sport we love so much.” Modelled after golf’s Ryder Cup, The Collins Cup will be a long distance length team competition among USA, Europe and the Internationals. Each team will consist of 12 professional triathletes, six men and six women. Eight athletes will earn a place on their respective teams by way of a PTO World Ranking System, and the remaining four athletes will be selected by each team’s captains. Each team will have two co-captains, one man and one women, who will be former greats in the sport, and will be selected by a committee of regional representatives appointed by the PTO.
An athlete from each team will battle against one another in an individual race of three, so there will be 12 separate race matches, each staggered 10 minutes apart. Athletes will be awarded points for their team based on performances in their respective race match and the team with the most overall points from the 12 race matches will claim the spoils of The Collins Cup and bragging rights as the most dominant force in the sport. The team that finishes last will receive The Broken Spoke Trophy. (The Collins Cup)
John and Judy Collins remarked, “It is quite incredible really. It is hard for us to believe that our endurance event, which started in Hawaii in the 1970s, with only 15 participants, has now inspired a global spectacle with professional teams from the USA, Europe and the Internationals competing for a trophy named after us. We are humbled and want to thank the Professional Triathletes Organisation for honouring us in this way.”
Matt Wikstrom, Executive Vice President of Endurance at Wasserman, stated “With triathlon’s growing participant base, affluent demographics and a rise in health, wellness and living an active lifestyle, The Collins Cup will appeal to a global audience. The event will combine a nationalistic, patriotic fervour with a compelling dramatic format, and we are confident that it will become one of the captivating events on the sporting calendar and one highly sought after in the media market.”
The inaugural Collins Cup will be staged in June 2018, over a Saturday and a Sunday at a host city to be determined. The weekend will be an all-inclusive celebration of the sport of triathlon. On the Saturday there will be a number of traditional triathlon events of varying lengths in which fans, amateur athletes and professionals not otherwise on a Collins Cup team will race. There will be a prize purse for professionals in the Saturday races. The Collins Cup team members will be on site during the Saturday races encouraging fans and participants. On the Sunday, the professional teams will take to the course and battle for The Collins Cup. The prize purse for The Collins Cup will be one of the largest in the sport.
About Wasserman
Wasserman is a culture-centric agency, serving the best talent, brands and properties in the world. Founded in 2002 with roots in sports and entertainment, Wasserman has evolved beyond those categories. They are an agency not just of advisors, but creators, developers, influencers and innovators who work across music, art, entertainment, social, tech, content and beyond. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Wasserman also operates in Carlsbad, Doha, Dubai, London, Miami, The Netherlands, New York, Portland, Raleigh, São Paulo, Singapore and Toronto.
About The Professional Triathletes Organisation
The Professional Triathletes Organisation is a not-for-profit entity of professional triathletes who seek to celebrate and promote the sport of triathlon. As host of The Collins Cup, the PTO will seek to foster the international good will, camaraderie and keen competition that are fundamental to the enjoyment and future growth of the sport of triathlon. FAQs
Contacts:
Shelley Lewis–Senior Director, PR Wasserman
+1 310 407 0200
Julia Polloreno–Media Relations Professional Triathletes Organisation
+1 619 405 0563
Charles D. Adamo–CEO Professional Triathletes Organisation
+1 480 399 9001 | +44 7880 710 004
Rich Allen–Executive Director Athlete Contact Professional Triathletes Organisation
+1 704 232 8465
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