ETU Long Distance European Champs

Today
the European Triathlon Union (ETU) and Challenge Family announced Challenge
Almere-Amsterdam will host the 2014 ETU European Championship Long Distance
Triathlon Championships. Almere, is Europe's oldest long distance race and
hosted the first European Championships in 1985, and again in 1991,1999 and
2006.

Challenge
Almere-Amsterdam is the third Challenge Family race to host the long distance
championships, sharing the honour with DATEV Challenge Roth and Challenge Vichy
since the partnership between ETU and Challenge Family began in 2012.

“The
Challenge Almere organizing committee is very pleased to be part of this
legacy”, said race director Richard Belderok. “It is our goal to attract a
significant number of athletes to this historic event from all over the world,
as well as of course reaching the international media.”

Flevoland
Deputy King’s Commissioner Jaap Lodders is enthusiastic about the
announcement. “The European Championships at Challenge Almere-Amsterdam are a
great boost for the event. It fits seamlessly in the Flevoland policy of
triathlon as focus sport. Flevoland breathes triathlon!”

“We are
delighted to continue our partnership with ETU into 2014 together with
Challenge Almere-Amsterdam,” said Felix Walchshِfer, CEO of Challenge Family.
“For us, this partnership reflects our commitment to working together with the
sport’s governing bodies to ensure triathlon continues to enjoy a strong and
healthy future. It’s an honour to see, nearly thirty years after the inaugural
event, the European Championships returning to their birthplace in Almere under
the Challenge banner.”

Renato
Bertrandi, President of the ETU, said: “I am happy to confirm that our
Executive Board has decided to continue working with Challenge in the Long
Distance events. We have had positive results over the last two years and we
confirm the successful partnership for the next seasons.

“I am
extremely happy that the European  Long Distance Championship will be held in Almere, a well known venue to all our European Long Distance athletes: I am
sure that the local organiser will create a great event. See you all there!”

Henk van
Lint, President NTB said, “This is great news for long distance in the
Netherlands and what a great step for the young Challenge Almere-Amsterdam LOC,
they deserve to host this new top event and we are looking forward to this
European Championship together with the Dutch Championships Long Distance as
well!”

“The triathlon is in the DNA of our community. Hundreds of volunteers have put
the triathlon in Almere back on the international sports map. The success lies
in acting as a family: together with volunteers, companies, sport clubs, local
government and sponsors we made a big improvement with our event by working
with the Challenge Family. Hosting the ETU European Championships is a reward
to all of us,” said Renee Peeters, Alderman City Almere.

The
official ETU European Long Distance Triathlon Championships will take place at
Challenge Almere-Amsterdam on September 13th 2014. Challenge Almere will also
play host to the 2014 Dutch Championships.

Challenge
and ETU are also continuing their partnership for the European Middle Distance
Championships which will take place in Mallorca on 18th October, 2014.