2021 Ironman World Championship canceled

 Due to rising Corona infection numbers: 2021 Ironman World Championship to be postponed to February 5., 2022. Hawaii is currently experiencing the strongest Corona infection wave since the beginning of the pandemic. The World Championship is now scheduled to take place in February 2022.

Principle of hope
The race in February is likely to pose challenges, especially for age group athletes and also professional athletes from Europe. The form must be brought or built up over the winter, despite optionally closed sports and swimming facilities. In addition, the Sword of Damocles of "Lockdown 4.0" hovers over all qualified athletes.

Press release

2021 EDITION OF IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 5, 2022 DUE TO CONTINUED GLOBAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC. 2021 Supersapiens IRONMAN World Championship postponed based on continuing COVID-19-related impact to Island of Hawai`i. 

IRONMAN in conjunction with local Hawai`i officials announced today that due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic to the Island of Hawai`i, the 2021 Supersapiens IRONMAN® World Championship has been rescheduled from its originally scheduled October 9, 2021 race date to February 5, 2022. Like 1982, we expect that there will be two editions of the IRONMAN World Championship in 2022 (February and October).

“The resurgence of the virus and new Delta strain has had significant impact on the island community of Hawai`i. Combined with substantial border closures and travel restrictions for qualified athletes, there is not a viable pathway in October to host the IRONMAN World Championship,” said Andrew Messick, President & Chief Executive Officer for The IRONMAN Group. “After extensive consultation with governmental and community leaders in Hawai`i, we believe that the best course of action is to delay the event until February of 2022.” 

“We have worked closely with local and state Hawai`i officials and other key event stakeholders, and are aligned in the imperative to protect our local community by shifting planning efforts to a February race date,” said Diana Bertsch, Senior Vice President, World Championship Events for The IRONMAN Group. “Our local community, athletes, partners, volunteers, and all other members of our `ohana -- who represent our Hawaiian roots and history -- feel pride and confidence in this difficult decision. We will work towards welcoming our athletes back to the Island of Hawai`i in February with the racing experience for which the IRONMAN World Championship is famous.”

“We are honored to work alongside the fantastic IRONMAN staff, amid a global pandemic, to reach an equitable solution that ensures our island’s premier sporting event may persist at a later date,” said Hawai`i County Mayor, Mitch Roth. “Since the first race in 1978, the event has become an integral part of our county’s global identity, and we look forward to welcoming the athletes and spectators from around the world to our shores once again when it is safe to do so.”

“The IRONMAN World Championship is an iconic part of our Hawai`i Island community and history.  For over 40 years, our community has supported IRONMAN and cheered on participants from all over the globe.  In return, IRONMAN has continued to support our community during these challenging times.  I am deeply grateful for IRONMAN’s $1,000,000 commitment to feed our residents in need throughout 2020 and 2021 with their Kahiau Together program. As IRONMAN continues to mālama and truly care about our island community, we look forward to welcoming the IRONMAN World Championship back in 2022 with our full support,” said State Senator Dru Mamo Kanuha.

The pandemic has greatly impacted the Hawaiian community not only through deadly cases of COVID, but also significantly hurting the local economy due to limited tourism opportunities. As the impact of the pandemic was felt in our home community where our staff and many volunteers live and work, a targeted initiative, Kahiau Together, was created alongside the IRONMAN Foundation in July 2020 to support locals who were suffering due to food insecurities. By years end, the Kahiau Together initiative will have hosted 25 events locally, serving over 132,000 meals through the distribution of food bundles of locally sourced fresh proteins, fruits, vegetables, and starches. An additional $30,000 in grants from the IRONMAN Foundation has been provided to non-profits feeding their communities. Those needing support can attend one of the following upcoming events:

Wednesday, September 1 – Kamehameha Park

A Meal Fit for a Queen – Celebrating the birth month of Queen Lili`uokalani

Monday, October 4 – Kona International Marketplace

Heroes of Hawai`i

Monday, November 22 - Kona International Marketplace

Thanksgiving Bundles

Monday, December 20 - Kona International Marketplace

Christmas Bundles

IRONMAN Athletes who are registered for the 2021 edition of the IRONMAN World Championship triathlon will be contacted directly. For more information and event details for the IRONMAN World Championship, please visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship. 

There are no material changes in qualifying for professional or age-group athletes for the 2022 IRONMAN World Championship. Additional information on the Kahiau Together initiative, schedule of events, grant applications, and how to support these efforts, visit www.ironmanfoundation.org/kahiau-together.

IRONMAN Triathlon parent company Wanda Sports Group (Dalian Wanda) agrees US$ 240m loan facility with Credit Suisse

The funding will help Wanda Sports Group to refinance and prepay its existing annual term loan facility, dated 15th Match 2019. The agreement has been made at uncertain times for the sports industry due SARS-CoV-2 pandemie and global outbreak of COVID-19 infection, with Wanda Sports Group announcing earlier in the month that the ongoing coronavirus outbreak could have a ‘material adverse impact’ on the company. Continue on SportsPro.

2020 IRONMAN Now Facebook Watch Schedule Announced with 19 Featured Events

Facebook Watch enters third year as exclusive digital home of live race coverage. he IRONMAN Group, a Wanda Sports Group company (Nasdaq: WSG), today announced it will continue live event coverage on Facebook Watch via the IRONMAN Now® Facebook Page for the third straight year, featuring 19 events from around the world in 2020. As the number of events receiving Facebook Watch live coverage has increased each year, so too have the fans tuning in. Over the past two years, more than 5.3 million people have watched at least one minute of an IRONMAN live event broadcast on Facebook.

Available globally to fans on Facebook, the 19 events covered this season will come from 12 different countries and four continents with coverage debuting on March 7 from the Nutri-Grain IRONMAN® New Zealand in Taupo. The storylines are rich with intrigue throughout the year as four regional championships will be featured including the IRONMAN African Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa; the IRONMAN North America Championship in St. George, Utah; The Cairns Airport IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship in Cairns, Australia; and the Mainova IRONMAN European Championship in Frankfurt, Germany.

Back by popular demand will be the return of IRONMAN Austria- Kärnten, IRONMAN Italy Emilia-Romagna and the ever-challenging IRONMAN Wales.

Making their inaugural appearance on Facebook Watch will be the first edition of the Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa, and IRONMAN Switzerland’s first stop in Thun, while Subaru IRONMAN Canada makes its long-awaited return to Penticton, British Columbia. Long-standing host cities Panama City Beach, Florida, USA and Santa Rosa, California, USA will join one of the oldest and most popular events on the global circuit, Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand, as each also makes their debut on IRONMAN Now.

IRONMAN will produce its live coverage for a connected audience, incorporating unique viewer interaction through Facebook Watch Parties, real-time polls, fan discussion, and user generated content from spectators along the course.

The Vega IRONMAN World Championship, which takes place annually in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i, will again receive robust week-long programming, culminating in nearly a full-day of live race coverage on October 10. Last year’s Vega IRONMAN World Championship included more than 20 hours of comprehensive live race day coverage, including everything from the early morning body marking to the final hour finish line celebration.

The extensive 2020 coverage concludes where it began in Taupo, New Zealand with the 2020 IRONMAN®70.3® World Championship taking place on Nov. 28-29. Nearly 6,000 of the best triathletes in the world will converge around The Great Lake Taupõ District for what will become the largest event in the series’ history.

The fully produced live event coverage will be hosted by past champions of IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events, including Dede Griesbauer, Matt Lieto, and Michael Lovato, as well as IRONMAN World Champions and Hall of Famers Paula Newby Fraser and Greg Welch.

Live race coverage of the following events as well as a range of on-demand programming will be available on Facebook Watch globally via the IRONMAN Now Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/IRONMANnow. The full 2020 schedule can be found below.

2020 IRONMAN Now Facebook Watch Schedule

• March 7 Nutri-Grain IRONMAN New Zealand Taupo, New Zealand
• March 29 IRONMAN African Championship Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa
• May 2 IRONMAN North American Championship St. George, Utah, USA
• May 31 Certified Piedmontese IRONMAN Tulsa Tulsa, Okla., USA
• June 7 Cairns Airport IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship Cairns, Australia
• June 21 IRONMAN Hamburg Hamburg, Germany
• June 28 Mainova IRONMAN European Championship Frankfurt, Germany
• July 5 IRONMAN Austria-Kärnten Klagenfurt, Austria
• July 12 IRONMAN Switzerland Thun, Switzerland
• July 25 IRONMAN Santa Rosa Santa Rosa, Calif., USA
• August 15 IRONMAN Kalmar Kalmar, Sweden
• August 23 Subaru IRONMAN Mont-Tremblant Mont-Tremblant, Québec, Canada
• August 30 Subaru IRONMAN Canada Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
• September 6 IRONMAN Wales Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom
• September 19 IRONMAN Italy Emilia-Romagna Cervia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
• September 26 IRONMAN Portugal – Cascais Cascais, Portugal
• October 10 Vega IRONMAN World Championship Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i, USA
• November 7 Visit Panama City Beach IRONMAN Florida Panama City Beach, Florida, USA
• November 28-29 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Taupo, New Zealand

Wanda Sports considering $1 billion sale of Ironman triathlon, Bloomberg reports

Wanda Sports Group Co., part of Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin’s conglomerate, is considering selling the global Ironman triathlon business it bought in 2015 for est. USD 650 million. Wanda Sports Group Co. is working with an adviser and has held discussions with some private-equity buyers that expressed interest in the business according to unnamed sources. The company holds also other sports assets outside China like Infront Sports & Media AG and many more.

A deal could come after Wanda Sports declined to enter talks last year with The Professional Triathletes Organization, which was interested in acquiring the Ironman business. The organization said at the time that excessive leverage has hampered Wanda Sports’s ability to invest in Ironman operations. 

Wanda Sports shares have dropped about 63% in New York trading since their July 2019 debut, paring the company’s market value to about $409 million. With total debt at about $968 million, the company has an enterprise value of about $1.2 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. 

Read more on Bloomberg.

Professional Triathletes Organisation Approaches Wanda Sports Board Proposing to Enter Into Discussions to Acquire IRONMAN® Business

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) today released the following letter sent to the Board of Directors of Wanda Sports Group Company Limited on 20th September 2019 proposing to enter into discussions to acquire its IRONMAN® business. One of their main goals is to get a fair share of revenues Ironman generates for all professional triathletes, similar to the models the big sports in the doemestic USA have implemented in the past.

20TH September 2019

Board of Directors

Wanda Sports Group Company Limited

Wanda Plaza

Tower B, 9th Floor

93 Jianguo Road Chaoyang District

Beijing, China

Attn: Mr. Hengming Yang–CEO

Andrew Messick

Chief Executive Officer

World Triathlon Corporation

3407 W. Martin Luther King Blvd, Suite 100

Tampa, FL 33607

Dear Members of the Board:

We are writing on behalf of the Professional Triathletes Organisation (the “PTO”) to make a proposal to enter into discussions for the acquisition by the PTO of all of the assets of the Wanda Sports Group Company Limited (“WSG”) related to its worldwide triathlon and mass participation business (the “WTC Triathlon-MP Business”).

The PTO is prepared to consider an all-cash transaction or one in which the existing shareholders of WSG are able to participate in the growth of the WTC Triathlon-MP Business that the PTO is uniquely positioned to deliver. Professional triathletes, age groupers and the triathlon community have for years watched the decline of our sport with dismay as the dedicated executives and passionate employees of the WTC Triathlon-MP Business have been hampered by an excessive debt load and pressures to deliver unrealistic short-term results to financial investors. There are reasons why world class professional sports like the NFL and MLB have debt limits imposed on ownership entities as excessive debt levels limit needed investment and often cause exploitive customer pricing and a decline in standards that sadly have been present, through no fault of the hard-working operating management, in the WTC Triathlon-MP  Business for years.  We believe the market has recognised this reality as the results of the WSG IPO have proved to be well below expectations.

We have appointed North Point Advisors as our financial advisor, and they have reviewed the public information filed in the WSG F-1 Registration Statement and subsequent 6-K filings. The PTO and North Point Advisors are prepared to begin discussions forthwith with your senior management and your financial advisors and sign any NDA related agreement required in order to commence certain confirmatory due diligence.  In light of the significance of this proposal to your shareholders and the triathlon community, as well as the potential for selective disclosures, we will publicly release the text of this letter Monday morning.

We believe this proposal represents an opportunity to realise significant value for WSG shareholders and employees, and that the PTO can uniquely provide a healthy and growing environment for the WTC Triathlon-MP Business.

We hope that you and your Board share our enthusiasm, and we look forward to a prompt and favourable reply.

Respectfully yours,

/s/ Charles Adamo

Charles D. Adamo

Chairman

/s/ Sam Renouf

Sam Renouf

Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Rachel Joyce

Rachel Joyce

Athlete Director

/s/ Dylan McNiece

Dylan McNeice

Athlete Director

cc: David Jacquin

North Point Advisors

580 California Street, Suite 200

San Francisco, CA 94104

Contacts:

Sam Renouf

Chief Executive Officer

Professional Triathletes Organisation

Sam Renouf

David Jacquin

Managing Director

North Point Advisors

About The Professional Triathletes Organisation

The Professional Triathletes Organisation is a not-for-profit entity representing the body of professional triathletes and seeks to showcase the passion, talents, determination, struggles and achievements of the dedicated professionals who strive to realise the highest levels of the sport and inspire all those who participate in triathlon, from seasoned age groupers to newbies. 

About North Point Advisors

North Point Advisors is a leading independent investment bank focused on providing financial advice on mergers and acquisitions and raising institutional capital to meet the growth objectives of its clients. Since its founding in 2004, North Point Advisors has advised on more than 160 transactions representing world class brands in over $25 billion of transaction value. Its industries of focus include consumer, wellness, and healthcare, and it has one of the largest and most experienced consumer M&A teams on Wall Street, completing transactions with leading brands such as Starbucks, Jimmy John’s, Kosta Browne Winery, Landry’s, Golden Nugget Casinos, Massage Envy, and Peanuts by Schulz.

IRONMAN Hamburg 2019 LIVE im Netz

Der IRONMAN Hamburg ist am Samstag, den 28. Juli 2019 ab 9:30 Uhr mit einem Streaming des TV-Signals im Internet auf Facebook verfügbar. Der Liveticker von IRONMAN beginnt, wie üblich am frühen Morgen auf Ironman.com. Am Start sind u. A. Top-Favoritinnen Caroline Steffen und Susie Cheetham, Julia Gajer, Sarah Pampiano, Andreas Raelert, Michael Raelert, Kristian Hogenhaug, Ruedi Wild, Will Clarke, Matt Trautman, Paul Schuster und Horst Reichel.

1. Live-Stream auf Facebook
2. Live-Ticker auf Ironman.com
3. Live-Tracker auf Ironman.com
4. Live-Tweets auf Twitter

IRONMAN Triathlon-owner Wanda Sports Group starts IPO process with target to raise US$500 million

According to two recent sources (NASDAQ, Renaissance Capital), Dalian Wanda Group is starting the IPO process for IRONMAN with a target range to raise US$500 million up to US$1 billion. 3athlon reported earlier in 2018 and 2019. full 162 page prelimary SEC Form F1 linked below.

Quote, NASDAQ:

IRONMAN to IPO: Global sports owner Wanda Sports Group files for a $500 million US IPO 

Wanda Sports Group, the sporting and live events unit being spun out of China's Wanda Group, filed on Friday with the SEC to raise up to $500 million in an initial public offering. 

Wanda Sports is one of the world's largest sports events, media and marketing platforms in terms of revenue in 2018, owning Infront Sports & Media, World Endurance Holdings (owner of the IRONMAN triathlon competition and brand) and Wanda Sports Co (owner of the China Cup International Football Tournament and the UCI Tour of Guangxi). 

The Beijing, China-based company traces its roots to 1980 and booked $1.3 billion in sales for the 12 months ended March 31, 2019. It plans to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol WSG. Wanda Sports Group filed confidentially on March 20, 2019. Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and Citi are the joint bookrunners on the deal. No pricing terms were disclosed.  

The article IRONMAN to IPO: Global sports owner Wanda Sports Group files for a $500 million US IPO originally appeared on IPO investment manager Renaissance Capital's web site renaissancecapital.com.  

Investment Disclosure: The information and opinions expressed herein were prepared by Renaissance Capital's research analysts and do not constitute an offer to buy or sell any security. Renaissance Capital's Renaissance IPO ETF (symbol: IPO) , Renaissance International ETF (symbol: IPOS) , or separately managed institutional accounts may have investments in securities of companies mentioned.

Quote, Renaissance Capital:

IRONMAN to IPO: Global sports owner Wanda Sports Group files for a $500 million US IPO 

Wanda Sports Group, the sporting and live events unit being spun out of China's Wanda Group, filed on Friday with the SEC to raise up to $500 million in an initial public offering. 

Wanda Sports is one of the world's largest sports events, media and marketing platforms in terms of revenue in 2018, owning Infront Sports & Media, World Endurance Holdings (owner of the IRONMAN triathlon competition and brand) and Wanda Sports Co (owner of the China Cup International Football Tournament and the UCI Tour of Guangxi). 

The Beijing, China-based company traces its roots to 1980 and booked $1.3 billion in sales for the 12 months ended March 31, 2019. It plans to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol WSG. Wanda Sports Group filed confidentially on March 20, 2019. Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and Citi are the joint bookrunners on the deal. No pricing terms were disclosed. 

1. NASDAQ: IRONMAN to IPO: Global sports owner Wanda Sports Group files for a $500 million US IPO
2. Renaissance Capital: IRONMAN to IPO: Global sports owner Wanda Sports Group files for a $500 million US IPO
3. Wanda Sports Group Company Limited, FORM F-1 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 7, 2019
4. China's Wanda files for U.S. IPO of sports unit including WTC's IRONMAN series to raise up to $500 million: sources
5. Wang Jianlin's sports holding within Dalian Wanda Group might consider an IPO and sale of overseas assets including Infront Sports & Media AG, World Triathlon Corp (Ironman)

IRONMAN Announces Partnership Expansion with Facebook For Global Programming

Despite the current political turmoil Facebook faces, Ironman announces partnership expansion with Facebook Watch for global programming up to 17 events per year. As early as 2018, coverage was very popular among athletes, fans and viewers in general and a clear success for the interactive streaming format.

2019 FacebookWatch will host 17 races from the IRONMAN circuit. Image: WTC, IRONMAN

2019 Ironman Facebook Watch
07.04.2019 Ironman African Championship (Port Elizabeth, RSA)
27.04.2019 Ironman North American Championship (The Woodlands, Texas, USA)
05.05.2019 Ironman Australia
09.09.2019Ironman Boulder
23.06.2019 Ironman Ireland
30.06.2019 Ironman European Championship (Frankfurt am Main, GER)
07.07.2019 Ironman Austria
14.07.2019 Ironman Vitoria Gateiz
28.07.2019 Ironman Lake Placid
18.08.2019 Ironman Copenhagen
07./08.09.2019 Ironman 70.3 World Championship (Nice, FRA)
15.09.2019 Ironman Wales
21.09.2019 Ironman Italy
29.09.2019 Ironman Chattanooga
12.10.2019 Ironman World Championship (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA)
02.11.2019 Ironman Florida
24.11.2019 Ironman Arizona

2019 FacebookWatch will host 17 races from the IRONMAN circuit, 8 from Europe. Image: WTC, IRONMAN

Press release:

Ironman announces partnership expansion with Facebook for global programming

Facebook Watch to be exclusive digital home to fully-produced live race coverage for at least 17 IRONMAN events per year, including the IRONMAN World Championship and IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.

Facebook Watch to be exclusive digital home to fully-produced live race coverage for at least 17 IRONMAN events per year, including the IRONMAN World Championship and IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship. Screenshot: IRONMAN Now on Facebook

IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Holdings Company, is pleased to announce a multi-year partnership extension with Facebook for live and fully produced IRONMAN race coverage. In response to an exceptional fan response in 2018 (IRONMAN content on the IRONMAN Now Facebook Page drew 4.5 million engagements), the agreement calls for Facebook Watch to be the exclusive digital home of 17 live events in 2019 and increasing to 19 events in 2020, with a third-year option for 22 events in 2021. This includes full live coverage of the IRONMAN World Championship and IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, as well as VOD recaps of every event broadcast on Facebook Watch. In the coming weeks, IRONMAN will announce the 2019 Facebook Watch schedule of IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events that will be featured. All coverage will be available globally on Facebook Watch via the IRONMAN Now Facebook Page.

"Participatory sports are a great fit for Facebook Watch because they're highly communal with established and engaged fanbases on our platform," said Devi Mahadevia, Facebook North America Sports Programming Lead. "IRONMAN is a perfect example, so we're thrilled to build on the success of our 2018 partnership by teaming again to bring fans around the world full-length coverage of the competition's top events."

In just the first year of the Facebook partnership in 2018, IRONMAN showcased a large and engaged audience with more than 3.5 million people watching at least one minute of an IRONMAN live broadcast, while totaling 4.5 million engagements through all content posted on the IRONMAN Now Facebook Page. The engagement performance ranked among the top sports organizations programing on Facebook in 2018.

The extended agreement with Facebook provides an opportunity to accelerate the global growth of triathlon while also raising the profiles of professional triathletes. Widely known as the pinnacle of all endurance sports, the IRONMAN World Championship captured the attention of fans on Facebook Watch through more than 20 hours of comprehensive live coverage, including everything from the early morning body marking to the final hour finish line celebration.

"The partnership with Facebook has given us the unique ability to showcase our sport to a global audience while taking them inside the inner workings of race day," said Matthieu van Veen, Chief Revenue Officer of IRONMAN. "With events on every continent and in more than 50 countries, we continuously strive to provide our athletes, fans and sponsors with content and platforms to connect. Facebook Watch provides the most innovative tools to allow our community to interact and engage throughout the 10 hours of live coverage for each of the events. The numbers from our Facebook Watch programing in 2018 are astounding and illustrate the deep interest and reach of our world class events. We look forward to our continued work with Facebook in bringing a truly global schedule of live event coverage to our broadening community."

IRONMAN will produce its live coverage for a connected audience, incorporating unique viewer interaction through Facebook Watch Parties, real-time polls, fan discussion, and user generated content from spectators along the course.

The fully produced live event coverage will be hosted by past champions of IRONMAN events, including Dede Griesbauer, Rachel Joyce, Matt Lieto, and Michael Lovato, as well as IRONMAN World Champions and Hall of Famers Paula Newby Fraser and Greg Welch.

Live race coverage as well as a range of on-demand programing will be available globally via the IRONMAN Now Facebook Page.

For more information on IRONMAN and events in the IRONMAN portfolio, visit www.ironman.com.

1. Ironman announces partnership expansion with Facebook for global programming

IRONMAN kündigt Erweiterung der Partnerschaft mit Facebook für globale Programmierung via Facebook Now an

Trotz der aktuellen politischen Turbulenzen auf Facebook kündigt Ironman eine Erweiterung der Partnerschaft mit Facebook Watch für die globale Programmierung von bis zu 17 Veranstaltungen pro Jahr an. Bereits 2018 war die Berichterstattung bei Athleten, Fans und Zuschauern im Allgemeinen sehr beliebt und ein klarer Erfolg für das interaktive Streaming-Format.

FacebookWatch wird 2019 17 IRONMAN übertragen. Bild: WTC, IRONMAN

Ironman Facebook Watch 2019
07.04.2019 Ironman African Championship (Port Elizabeth, RSA)
27.04.2019 Ironman North American Championship (The Woodlands, Texas, USA)
05.05.2019 Ironman Australia
09.09.2019Ironman Boulder
23.06.2019 Ironman Ireland
30.06.2019 Ironman European Championship (Frankfurt am Main, GER)
07.07.2019 Ironman Austria
14.07.2019 Ironman Vitoria Gateiz
28.07.2019 Ironman Lake Placid
18.08.2019 Ironman Copenhagen
07./08.09.2019 Ironman 70.3 World Championship (Nice, FRA)
15.09.2019 Ironman Wales
21.09.2019 Ironman Italy
29.09.2019 Ironman Chattanooga
12.10.2019 Ironman World Championship (Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA)
02.11.2019 Ironman Florida
24.11.2019 Ironman Arizona

FacebookWatch wird 2019 17 IRONMAN übertragen, davon finden 8 in Europa statt. Bild: WTC, IRONMAN

Pressemitteilung:

Großartiges Feedback der IRONMAN-Triathlon-Fans im ersten Jahr führt zu mehrjähriger Partnerschaft mit Facebook für weltweite Live-Berichterstattung

IRONMAN, Teil der Wanda Sports Holdings, gibt die mehrjährige Verlängerung der Partnerschaft mit Facebook für die Live-Berichterstattung der IRONMAN®-Rennen bekannt. Durch die Vereinbarung wird Facebook Watch zur exklusiven Plattform für 17 Live-Events im Jahr 2019 sowie 19 IRONMAN-Veranstaltungen im Jahr 2020, mit der Option auf eine Verlängerung der Partnerschaft für ein drittes Jahr mit 22 Live-Events.

Großartiges Feedback der IRONMAN-Triathlon-Fans im ersten Jahr führt zu mehrjähriger Partnerschaft mit Facebook für weltweite Live-Berichterstattung. Screenshot: IRONMAN Now on Facebook

Dies beinhaltet die komplette Live-Übertragung der IRONMAN® World Championship und der IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship, sowie die Wiederholungen aller auf Facebook Watch übertragenen Veranstaltungen auf Abruf. In den kommenden Wochen wird IRONMAN bekannt geben, welche IRONMAN- und IRONMAN 70.3-Rennen 2019 auf Facebook Watch übertragen werden. Sämtliche Inhalte werden weltweit auf Facebook Watch über die IRONMAN Now Facebook-Seite verfügbar sein.

"Sportarten, die von einem Großteil der Bevölkerung ausgeübt werden können, passen hervorragend zu Facebook Watch, da diese auf großes Interesse bei unseren bestehenden und interaktiven Fangemeinden stoßen", sagt Devi Mahadevia, Facebook North America Sports Programming Lead. "IRONMAN ist das perfekte Beispiel dafür. Deshalb freuen wir uns, auf dem Erfolg unserer letztjährigen Partnerschaft aufzubauen und uns erneut zusammenzuschließen, um die Fans auf der ganzen Welt in voller Länge über die Top-Events des Wettbewerbs zu informieren."

Bereits im ersten Jahr der Partnerschaft mit Facebook konnte IRONMAN ein großes und interaktives Publikum ansprechen. Mehr als 3.5 Millionen Zuschauern sahen mindestens eine Minute lang eine IRONMAN-Liveübertragung, wobei es insgesamt 4,5 Millionen Interaktionen gab über alle Inhalte, die auf der IRONMAN Now Facebook-Seite veröffentlicht wurden. Die gemessenen Interaktionen zählen zu den besten Ergebnissen aller Sportorganisationen, die 2018 auf Facebook einen Livestream angeboten haben.

Der Fortsetzung der Partnerschaft mit Facebook bietet die Möglichkeit, den Triathlon-Sport weltweit weiter wachsen zu lassen und gleichzeitig die Bekanntheit von Triathlon-Profis zu steigern. Die IRONMAN World Championship, weitgehend betrachtet als der Höhepunkt aller Ausdauersportarten, weckte die Aufmerksamkeit der Fans auf Facebook Watch durch die über 20-stündige Live-Berichterstattung, von der einzigartigen Atmosphäre beim Schwimmstart frühmorgens bis hin zu den letzten emotionalen Zieleinläufen.

"Die Partnerschaft mit Facebook hat uns die einzigartige Möglichkeit gegeben, unseren Sport einem globalen Publikum zu präsentieren und den Zuschauern den Ablauf eines Renntages näher zu bringen", so Matthieu van Veen, Chief Revenue Officer von IRONMAN. "Mit Veranstaltungen auf allen Kontinenten und in mehr als 50 Ländern möchten wir unseren Athleten, Fans und Sponsoren Inhalte und Plattformen zur Verfügung zu stellen, die sie miteinander verbinden. Facebook Watch bietet die innovativsten Möglichkeiten für unsere Gemeinschaft, um während der 10-stündigen Live-Übertragung der jeweiligen Events miteinander zu kommunizieren. Die Zahlen unserer Facebook Watch Übertragungen im Jahr 2018 sind verblüffend und veranschaulichen das große Interesse und die Reichweite unserer Weltklasse-Events. Wir freuen uns auf die weitere Zusammenarbeit mit Facebook, um unserer wachsenden Gemeinschaft ein umfassendes Programm für die Live-Übertragung von Events auf der ganzen Welt zu bieten."

IRONMAN wird die Live-Berichterstattung mit einzigartigen Zuschauerinteraktionen ergänzen, wie Facebook Watch Partys, Echtzeit-Umfragen, Fan-Diskussionen und nutzergenerierten Inhalten von Zuschauern entlang der Strecke.

Die Live-Übertragungen werden moderiert von ehemaligen IRONMAN-Siegern, darunter Dede Griesbauer, Rachel Joyce, Matt Lieto und Michael Lovato, sowie von den IRONMAN-Weltmeistern und Hall of Fame-Mitgliedern Paula Newby Fraser und Greg Welch.

Die Live-Übertragung der IRONMAN-Rennen sowie weitere Formate auf Abruf werden weltweit auf der IRONMAN Now Facebook-Seite zur Verfügung stehen - www.facebook.com/IRONMANnow.

Weitere Informationen über IRONMAN und Veranstaltungen im IRONMAN-Portfolio finden Sie unter www.ironman.com.

China's Wanda files for U.S. IPO of sports unit including WTC's IRONMAN series to raise up to $500 million: sources

According to report by Reuters (by Kane Wu, Julia Fioretti, Julie Zhu, Joshua Franklin, Julia Fioretti, Simon Cameron-Moore) China's Dalian Wanda Group files just 4 years after the acquisiation of World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) in 2015 for U.S. IPO of sports unit including WTC's IRONMAN series to raise up to $500 million.[1] This would be the long expected step towards public trading of iconic races like IRONMAN Hawaii Triathlon on the Big Island of Hawaii.[2]:

Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group has filed confidentially for a U.S. initial public offering of its sports unit that could fetch up to $500 million, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter. 

The company made the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the listing, which could happen in the first half of this year, the sources said.
The IPO could raise between $300 million and $500 million, the people said, though one cautioned that $500 million might be high. 

A Wanda spokesman did not provide any immediate comment. 

Wanda’s sprawling business empire ranges from real estate to sport to cinemas, but it has been rattled in the past years by a government-led crackdown on overseas deals and high leverage. 

The company owned by Wang Jianlin, one of China’s richest men, has since started offloading domestic and overseas holdings, including stakes in cinema operator AMC Entertainment and Spanish soccer club Atletico Madrid and a handful of property developments. 

Other Chinese conglomerates such as HNA group and Fosun International (0656.HK) have also faced government pressure to cut down on what Beijing has termed irrational overseas deals. 

An IPO of Wanda’s sports assets would include Infront Sports & Media AG, a Swiss sports marketing company and World Triathlon Corp, the organizer and promoter of the Ironman race, three sources previously told Reuters. 

The two were acquired in 2015 for $1.2 billion and $650 million respectively. Wanda, while preparing the IPO, had also received offers for the businesses from a number of private equity firms, Reuters reported. 

Citigroup (C.N), Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) are working on the deal, the sources said. Citigroup and Deutsche Bank declined to comment. Morgan Stanley did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Chinese companies have dominated the ranks of those looking to go public worldwide, raising $58.2 billion in IPOs last year, accounting for 29 percent of global issuers, according to Refinitiv data. 

They have also been very active in U.S. listings, raising $9.1 billion last year, the highest level since 2014, Refinitiv data showed.

1. China's Wanda files for U.S. IPO of sports unit to raise up to $500 million: sources 
2. Bulle oder Bär - kommt ein Initial Public Offering im Ironman Triathlon?

2018 IRONMAN World Championship 90 minute Highlight show on Facebook

World Triathlon Corporation will air a 90 minute IRONMAN World Championship highlight show exclusively on Facebook on November 24th.
Read the press release below:

2018 IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BROUGHT TO YOU BY AMAZON SPECIAL 

CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF DREAMS BY VIEWING THE 2018 IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BROUGHT TO YOU BY AMAZON SPECIAL THROUGH THE IRONMAN NOW FACEBOOK WATCH CHANNEL

- Special spotlights the historic victories and magic of Kona through the Champions and Inspirational Athletes who compete -

TAMPA, Fla. (November 23, 2018) – For the very first time, the annual IRONMAN® World Championship special will be available on the IRONMAN Now Facebook Watch channel beginning this Saturday, November 24 at 6:00 p.m. ET (11:00 p.m GMT/Midnight CET) for international audiences to view the iconic triathlon that took place on October 13, 2018 in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i. Since 1978, the IRONMAN World Championship triathlon has showcased not only the limitless physical capability and competitive nature of the top endurance athletes in the world, but also some of the most awe-inspiring and impactful stories of courage and resilience from the age-group athletes and everyday individuals competing alongside them. To tune in, check out the IRONMAN Now Facebook page at Facebook.com/IRONMANnow/.

Producing this year’s 90-minute show is Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.), a best-in-class television production company that is highly experienced in coverage of endurance sports events such as the Tour de France to audiences around the world. The broadcast includes more camera angles than ever before and aerial imagery that will put viewers into the heart of the race, showcasing the amazing beauty and grueling conditions that the island of Hawai`i is known for.

Click on the following link for a preview of this year’s broadcast: Youtube.com/watch?v=moVDY_8NWtE

The broadcast special spans from the pre-race build-up beginning with body marking to the final hours of the nighttime finish, unveiling the intensity, emotion, physical demands and dramatic competition of the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run across the rugged Hawaiian terrain. With approximately 2,500 registered athletes, the 40th Anniversary year marked the largest field ever with athletes from a record breaking 82 countries, regions and territories, proving that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE®.

Among the features of this year’s IRONMAN World Championship special: Exclusive interviews from current and former World Champions and other professional IRONMAN® athletes during a record setting day.

Defending women’s IRONMAN World Champion Daniela Ryf of Switzerland looks to make history and join an elite group by claiming a fourth consecutive victory as 2017’s second-place finisher Lucy Charles of Great Britain looks to top the podium. Germany’s Anne Haug looks to make a name for herself at this year’s event.

With a perfect display of form and strength, course record holder and last year’s champion Patrick Lange of Germany battles the likes of Belgium’s Bart Aernouts, Great Britain’s David McNamee and American Tim O’Donnell.

Mother of five, lawyer, entrepreneur and cancer survivor, Rachel Brenke takes on the ultimate test while redefining what it means to be a modern-day superwoman. Leigh Chivers, who has suffered great personal tragedy following the loss of his wife and young son, looks to honor them while competing at the IRONMAN World Championship Brothers Brent and Kyle Pease motivated by the Hoyts are the epitome of ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Born with cerebral palsy, Kyle turned to his brother Brent to help him complete his dream of becoming an athlete.

At the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship brought to you by Amazon, they attempt to become only the second special team in history to complete the course. A programming fixture for IRONMAN, the IRONMAN World Championship special has garnered 55 Emmy Award nominations with 17 Emmys along with many other accolades. For more information about the IRONMAN World Championship, visit www.ironman.com/worldchampionship.

Oliver Schiek neuer Geschäftsführer bei IRONMAN in Europa für Deutschland, Frankreich, Benelux - Björn Steinmetz verlässt WTC

Oliver Schiek führt seit einigen Tagen die Geschäfte der World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) in den europäischen Kernmärkten Deutschland, Frankreich und Benelux und hat den bisherigen Geschäftsführer für Deutschland (IRONMAN Germany GmbH), Björn Steinmetz ersetzt. Steinmetz zeigte sich für die Klassiker in Frankfurt, Wiesbaden und das von ihm bei seinem Wechsel von Challenge zu IRONMAN mit ausreichend kontroverser Diskussion mit in die WTC eingebrachte Event in Kraichgau verantwortlich. Zusätzlich wurde während seiner Amtszeit die Rennen in Hamburg und auf Rügen, sowie die Märkte in den Niederlanden und Luxemburg penetriert. Dies berichtet Frank Hellmann in einem aktuellen Artikel in der Frankfurter Rundschau. *1, 2

Der Hamburger Schiek kann auf erfolgreiche Projekte im Rahmen der Cyclassics Hamburg und der IRONMAN Triathlons in England und Irland zurückblicken. Ob das Engagement von Schiek in Frankfurt-Liederbach interimistischer Natur oder auf Dauer ausgelegt ist, ist nach aktuellem Sachstand und dem Fehlen einer offiziellen Pressemitteilung ungeklärt. Pascal Morillon bleibt weiterhin Renndirektor.

Nach Thomas Dieckhoff, Kai Walter und dem Gründer des IRONMAN Frankfurt, Kurt Denk und den ehemaligen Franchisenehmern in Österreich und der Schweiz scheidet ein weiteres Mitglied des euopäischen Seniormanagements aus.

1. „Abschied durch die Hintertür“, Frank Hellmann, FR: http://www.fr.de/sport/rhein-main/marathon/ironman-frankfurt-abschied-durch-die-hintertuer-a-1623573
2. Artikel zu Björn Steinmetz: http://www.dnf-is-no-option.com/search/label/Bj%C3%B6rn%20Steinmetz

Wie den IRONMAN Hawaii 2018 mit Jan Frodeno als Co-Kommentator live verfolgen? Facebook oder TV?

Die mehr oder minder 40. Auflage des IRONMAN Hawaii Triathlon findet am kommenden Samstagabend (MEZ) ab ca. 18.30 Uhr statt. Wenn am 13. Oktober 2018 rund 2.500 Triathletinnen und Triathleten in den Pazifik stürzen, steht einem gepflegten Abend auf der Couch lediglich der vernünftige Empfang von Internet und TV im Wege. Für den deutschsprachigen Raum bieten sich gleich zwei Alternativen an, die beide sogar jeweils als Co-Kommentator mit dem zweifachen IRONMAN-Weltmeister Jan Frodeno aufwarten können, der offensichtlich ein paar Extrameilen als Rehatraining nach seinem Ermüdungsbruch eingeplant hat und zwischen den beiden provisorischen Studios wechseln wird.

Am 13. Oktober 2018 stürzen sich ab 18:30 Uhr (MEZ) rund 2.500 Triathletinnen und Triathleten beim IRONMAN Hawaii Triathlon in die Fluten. Screenshot: Ironman.com

FaceBooNow

Die World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) als Veranstalterin des IRONMAN selbst covert mit der bewährten Crew um Paula Newby-Fraser, Greg Welch, Michael Lovato und diversen Gästen in englischer Sprache die epische Schlacht der Titelverteidigung von Daniela Ryf und Patrick Lange. Durch die direkte Anbindung an die WTC und Fokus auf den internationalen Wettbewerb können sehr oft viele Insiderinformationen untergebracht werden, auf die andere Formate keinen Zugriff haben. Gelegentlich gehen bei der spezifisch internationalen Ausrichtung Details aus kleineren Nationen verloren und die Anzahl der Werbeblöcke ist für Konsumenten aus Europa ggf. gewöhnungsbedürftig.

Hier könnt ihr am Samstag ab 18:30 Uhr (MEZ) den IRONMAN Hawaii Triathlon live via IRONMANnow verfolgen

ZDF

Das öffentlich-rechtliche Fernsehen ist in diesem Jahr mit dem ZDF vor Ort und liefert oftmals die bessere sportlich-fachliche Einordnung ab, als das Pendant von der ARD mit man sich i. d. R. im Jahresrhythmus abwechselt. Neben Jan Frodeno greifen die Mainzer als Fachkommentator auf  Timo Bracht und Daniel Unger zurück. Wie gewohnt starten die Mainzelmännchen in deutscher Sprache im Internet in direkter Konkurrenz zu IRONMAN, um dann am 14. Oktober 2018 von Mitternacht bis ca. 3:45 am frühen Morgen das Rennen live im TV auszustrahlen.

Hier könnt ihr den IRONMAN Hawaii Triathlon 2018 am Samstag, 13. Oktober ab 18:30 Uhr (MEZ), live beim ZDF (Internet + TV) verfolgen

Links der Artikel rund um den IRONMAN Hawaii 2018:

• IRONMAN Hawaii 2018 verpasst? Hier kann man mehr als 9 Stunden Liveberichterstattung erneut erleben
• Daniela Ryf, die Unbezwingbare: IRONMAN Hawaii Weltmeistertitel Nr. 4 in Folge
• Ein Weltmeistertitel in Teamarbeit, Patrick Lange sichert sich mit Hilfe von Andreas Dreitz erneut IRONMAN Hawaii
• Kommentar: Rumble in the Djungle: Sebastian Kienle und Jan Frodeno schießen im Interview mit der FAZ gegen Patrick Lange
• DNS für Jan Frodeno, Dominator der Saison 2018 muss auf den Start beim Ironman Hawaii 2018 wegen Stressfraktur verzichten
• Wetterupdate Big Island of Hawaii für die Regionen Kona und Kohala für den RONMAN Hawaii
• Wer gewinnt den IRONMAN Hawaii Triathlon 2018? Können Daniela Ryf und Patrick Lange die Titel verteidigen?
• Wie den IRONMAN Hawaii 2018 mit Jan Frodeno als Co-Kommentator live verfolgen? Facebook oder TV?

Amazon to be the official 2018 title sponsor and sports nutrition ecommerce platform for Ironman Hawaii Triathlon

Amazon, the 2nd company in the World with a USD trillion market cap will be the official 2018 title sponsor and sports nutrition ecommerce and retail platform for 40th Ironman Hawaii Triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

"Official Sports Nutrition Retailer" for the "Ironman World Championship brought to you by Amazon" is the actual wording listed on WTC's (World Triathlon Corporation) website. The first 53" video commercial with lead announcer Mike "The Voice of Ironman" Reilly is published on Twitter recently.

The commercial could serve as a stylish weak-up call for some sports nutrition, sports retail companies and an additional proof of Amazon's willingness to develop the sports category on their platform not only with products of the Amazon Basics portfolio in the sports clothing sub-category.

Spend your time training, not shopping. “Special delivery” from @Amazon! pic.twitter.com/KwLly6vkrn

— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) 10. September 2018

Presse release World Triathlon Corporation (WTC):

IRONMAN selects Amazon as the Official Sports Nutrition Retailer of the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship taking place on Saturday, Oct. 13

TAMPA, Fla. (Sept. 10, 2018) – IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Holdings company, is excited to team up with Amazon as the title sponsor of the 2018 IRONMAN® World Championship and Official Sports Nutrition Retailer of the iconic triathlon event that will take place on Saturday, October 13 in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i. The collaboration will provide participants access to a vast selection of nutrition products, including items from IRONMAN official nutrition partners CLIF Bar and Gatorade, available to athletes looking to prove ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® on the sports largest stage.

“We are thrilled to announce we’ve teamed up with Amazon,” said Matthieu Van Veen, Chief Revenue Officer for IRONMAN. “The IRONMAN World Championship is the most iconic endurance event in the world and this collaboration with Amazon as we celebrate our 40th anniversary will provide athletes globally with direct access to sports nutrition products that help them reach the pinnacle of the sport.”

The demand for sports performance and wellness products are at an all-time high. The world’s best athletes will have access to a wide range of optimal products located conveniently all in one place at www.amazon.com/ironmanrace, helping them reach their peak performance goals.

The vast array of products available in the IRONMAN World Championship store within the Amazon Sports Nutrition shopping experience will include third party certified supplement products, which will help athletes reduce the risks that are often associated with supplement use. IRONMAN encourages all athletes to know and understand their rights and responsibilities with regard to anti-doping policy and procedure and to be aware of what they are putting in their body.

Live race coverage of the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship brought to you by Amazon will be available on Oct. 13, 2018 in the United States on NBC Sports platforms and on ironman.com and globally via IRONMAN NOW on Facebook Watch – www.facebookwatch.com/IRONMANnow.

IRONMAN World Championship

Since its inception in 1978 on the island of Oahu, the IRONMAN World Championship has etched its name in history through stellar performances, inspirational participants and emotional memories. In 1981, the race moved from the tranquil shores of Waikiki to the barren lava fields of Kona on the Island of Hawai`i where it continues to take place to this day. The race now sees over 2,400 athletes embark on a 140.6-mile journey that presents the ultimate test of body, mind and spirit to earn the title of IRONMAN World Champion. The most iconic one-day sporting event in the world is the culmination of 40 global IRONMAN events with athletes around the world striving for one of the coveted qualifying slots.

About IRONMAN

As part of Wanda Sports Holdings, the IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series®, Iron Girl®, IRONKIDS®, International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series races, road cycling events including the UCI Velothon® Series, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, premier marathons including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, trail running like Ultra-Trail Australia™, and other multisport races. IRONMAN’s events, together with all other Wanda Sports Holdings events, provide more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. The iconic IRONMAN® Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races. Beginning as a single race, IRONMAN has grown to become a global sensation with more than 230 events across 53 countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.

About Wanda Sports Holdings

Wanda Sports Holdings is the world’s leading sports business entity, founded to capture the opportunities in the global sports industry and to contribute to the prosperous international sports landscape – in three key areas: 1) Spectator Sports (media & marketing business), 2) Participation Sports (active lifestyle business), 3) Services (digital, production and service business). Wanda Sports Holding incorporates the international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media, the iconic endurance brand IRONMAN, and Wanda Sports China. The headquarters are in Guangzhou, China.

Live webcam of the volcanic eruption in the south of Big Island, Hawaii

Since May 2018, the Kilauea volcano has been the scene of smoke clouds, local earthquakes of 5.4 and 6.9 magnitude, several new fissures, from which lava flows in the south of the island are slowly rolling towards the sea and have also destroyed or badly affected some houses of the Leilani estates in the southern district of Puna. Due to the location of the epicentre of the eruption and the current flow direction of the lava, the staging of the Ironman Hawaii Triathlon in October 2018 does not seem to be endangered at present.

However, the increased formation of Vog (volcanic aerosols and air pollution, smog = vog) is immanent for people with sensitive airways, such as children, the elderly and people suffering from respiratory diseases or allergies. Scientificamerica has published two interesting articles on this natural phenomenon, which deals with analogies to the 1924 outbreak and the physical effects of the entry of lava into the Pacific. Worth reading. [1, 2] 

Worth seeing, is a live webcam just half a mile away from two fissures. The operators write on YouTube[3]:

"This feed is from a camera at a residence about a half a mile from fissures 20 and 17. We have permission from the homeowners to broadcast from their home. Sometimes we have to turn the sound off for privacy of the homeowners who are now home and around the camera. There will be times when someone stands in front of the camera, we ask for your patience as this is someones home. Please be respectful to others and the broadcaster in chat or you will be removed."

1. Kilauea’s Next Eruptions May Mirror a Big One in Its Past
2. Kilauea's Lava Is Now Spilling into the Ocean--Here's Why That's Dangerous
3. Live Video: Kilauea Lava Flow Activity In Lower Puna Hawaii

Wang Jianlin's sports holding within Dalian Wanda Group might consider an IPO and sale of overseas assets including Infront Sports & Media AG, World Triathlon Corp (Ironman)

According to Reuters [1], Dalian Wanda might sell these recently in boight assets via an IPO. The two were acquired in 2015 for $1.2 billion and $650 million respectively. An IPO for Ironman was one of 3athlon's favourite 2011 scenarios, to attach all their customers even closer to the brand and lifestyle.[2] What kind of christmas present would this be, to not only race, but own also some stock of your very favourite leisure sport?!

Dalian Wanda Group Co., Ltd. brings together under one roof the newly founded Wanda Sports Holding Co., Ltd. Infront Sports & Media and the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). Logos: Dalian Wanda Group, Infront, World Triathlon Corporation

Exclusive: China's Wanda mulls sport unit IPO and sale of overseas assets - sources

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China’s Dalian Wanda Group is considering a Hong Kong listing for its sports assets as part of efforts to rationalize its portfolio that could also include other sales, according to five people familiar with the situation.

The conglomerate last month tapped investment banks for a potential initial public offering of its sports businesses, three of the sources said. Citic Securities, China’s largest brokerage, is one of the banks involved, added one of them.

A spokesman for Citic Securities declined to comment.

Wanda’s businesses range from real estate to football and cinemas but it has been rattled in the past year by a government-led crackdown on overseas deals and high leverage. The company is owned by Wang Jianlin, one of China’s richest men.

An IPO of Wanda’s sports assets would include Infront Sports & Media AG, a Swiss sports marketing company and World Triathlon Corp, the organizer and promoter of the Ironman race, according to three of the people.

The two were acquired in 2015 for $1.2 billion and $650 million respectively.

The share offering would also include Wanda’s smaller sports assets in China, such as cycling and basketball leagues, one of them said. The public float would not involve Wanda’s 20 percent stake in the Spanish football club Atletico Madrid, valued at 67 million euros after a recent capital raise, the source said.

The IPO would most likely take place in Hong Kong, but bankers have also pitched for a U.S. listing, according to the people.

Wanda is separately looking to sell Sunseeker International, a British yacht maker it bought in 2013 for $495 million but whose financial performance it has failed to turn around, two other people said.

Wanda declined to comment. The people could not be named as the plans are confidential.

Wanda’s interest in property, sports and entertainment - accounting for more than $13 billion of its deals in the past five years - ran into official opposition last year when Beijing labeled overseas deals in those areas “irrational”.

In addition to sports, its holdings also include the cinema chain AMC Entertainment Holdings and movie studio Legendary Entertainment.

The company is also considering the merits of a pre-IPO funding round for the sports unit, according to one of the people. All plans are still at an early stage however as Wanda is seeking a chief financial officer for the sports business to lead the fundraising efforts, said another of the people.

Property forms the basis of the Wanda empire - its mixed use Wanda Plaza developments are common across China - but this too has put pressure on Wang’s business.

Last year, Chinese regulators told banks to stop providing funding for several of its overseas acquisitions as Beijing looks to curb the conglomerate’s offshore buying spree.

Shortly after, Wanda sold a portfolio of hotels and tourism assets, including 13 theme parks, for $9 billion to Guangzhou R&F Properties (2777.HK) and Sunac China (1918.HK). Five flagship overseas developments - in London, Chicago, Los Angeles, Sydney and Australia’s Gold Coast - are also available for sale, according to one source.

1. Exclusive: China's Wanda mulls sport unit IPO and sale of overseas assets - sources 
2. Bulle oder Bär - kommt ein Initial Public Offering im Ironman Triathlon?

IRONMAN Hawaii 2017: Die Highlights um Ryf, Lange, Charles, Sanders, Corwley und McNamee im Video

Der IRONMAN Hawaii 2017 ist gerade einmal eine Woche her. Die Wartezeit auf den Oktober 2018, wenn der IRONMAN Hawaii Triathlon in eine neue Auflage startet, lässt sich prächtig überbrücken. Das Video ist auch kleine Motiviationshilfe für die trüben, nass-kalten Herbsttage in Nord- und Mitteleuropa bestens geeignet. Wenn man sich neben dem im Video gezeigten 2017er Podium mit Daniela Ryf, Lucy Charles, Sarah Crowley, Rekordhalter Patrick Lange, Lionel Sanders, David McNamee die zwei echten Hochkaräter Javier Gomez Noya und mit einigen Fragezeichen versehenen Alistair Brownlee für die 2018er Auflage der Herren vor das innere Auge führt, kribbelt es nicht nur in den Füßen.

Oder sind es nicht die Altersklassen-Triathletinnen und Triathleten, die den Mythos von Kona am Leben halten? Viel Spaß mit den echten Helden…

IRONMAN Hawaii Triathlon World Championship 2017: „Es kann nur Einen geben“

Nach dem erst zweiten Fall eines rein deutschen Podiums beim IRONMAN Hawaii im Jahr 2016 sind die Erwartungen an die Mitteleuropäer in der Bucht von in Kailua-Kona hoch.

Nach 1997 treffen sich mit Sebastian Kienle (Silber), Jan Frodeno (Gold) und Patrick Lange (Bronze) zum zweiten Mal drei Deutsche auf dem Podium des Ironman Hawaii Triathlons zu Blumenzeremonie und Champagnerdusche. Photo: WTC - Ironman.com

Es gibt jedoch einige Mit-Favoriten aus aller Welt, die die Krone auf dem Queen Ka?ahumanu Highway auf dem Weg hinauf zum Rad-Wendepunkt nach Hawi oder beim Anstieg aus dem Natural Energy Lab auf den letzten Kilometern des Marathons in der Lavawüste an sich reißen möchten. Physisch sind 6-8 Athleten bereit und fähig für den Sieg, mental letztlich nur ein einziger Profi-Triathlet…

 Wer gewinnt bei den Herren? Wie jedes Jahr die Prognose von 3athlon kurz und knapp:

1. Jan Frodeno (GER)
2. Patrick Lange (GER)
3. Lionel Sanders (CAN)
4. Sebastian Kienle (GER)
5. Ben Hoffmann (USA)

Jan Frodeno (GER) wird sein Heil in der Flucht und Verbündete in exzellenten Schwimm-Radlern suchen, vielleicht ergänzt um Patrick Lange (GER). Gelingt es Lange nicht Frodeno auf dem Rad massiv unter Druck und in die rote Zone zu zwingen und im Umkehrschluss Frodo nicht, Lange auf dem Rad abzuschütteln wird es für beide Athleten ein spannender Marathon um den Sieg mit der Gefahr, dass sich beide übernehmen und überzocken.

Von hinten rollt zwischenzeitlich der Rad-Brutalo-Express im Duo Sebastian Kienle und Lionel Sanders heran, deren Auftritte in Kona immer mit einem bangen Blick auf den Rückstand im Schwimmen verbunden sind. Schaffen beide zusammen den Sprung in die Spitzengruppe gemeinsam und frühzeitig, wird das Feld umgehend gesprengt. Schafft es nur einer der beiden, hat der Nachzügler fast keine Chance mehr aufzuschließen und legal von der Dynamik der Gruppe mit dem Windschattenverbot von rund 10 Metern zu profitieren. Im Marathon hat Sanders, der rund 60% seines Trainings in allen Disziplinen auf Ergometern absolviert die besseren Karten und verweist Kienle auf den Rang mit der Holzmedaille.

Daniela Ryf hat ebenfalls den Weltmeistertitel verteidigen können. Als Sahnehäubchen gibt es einen neuen Streckenrekord mit 8:46:46 gleich dazu. Photo: WTC - Ironman.com

1. Daniela Ryf (SUI)
2. Sarah Crowley (AUS)
3. Heather Jackson (USA)
4. Kaisa Lehtonen (FIN)
5. Lucy Charles (GBR)

Bei den Frauen wird sich Daniela Ryf an einem soliden Tag die Butter nicht vom Brot nehmen lassen, auch wenn die Saison wegen einer hartnäckigen Rückverletzung schleppend verlief. Die Mitbewerberinnen um die Krone der Queen of Kona rücken jedoch beständig auf und besonders beim Marathon, Ryfs „schwächster“ Disziplin, werden einige aus den Top 5 den Druck erhöhen. Das Frauenrennen, wie auch bei den Herren wird 2017 beim Marathon entschieden.

Weiterführende Links:

1. IronmanHawaii Live im Redbull TV
2. Bob der Baumeister: Ironman Hawaii und die Deutschen, ein Erklärungsversuch
3. Ist das Erbe von Ironman-Championesse Daniela Ryf schon jetzt größer als das einerNewby-Fraser, Badmann, Wellington, Carfrae, Bowden oder Puntous?
4. Wie den zweifachen Ironman Weltmeister Jan Frodeno schlagen?
5. Das Patrick Lange Dilemma: 4 Watt pro Kilogramm oder Watt absolut beim IronmanHawaii?

Red Bull TV with global live coverage of IRONMAN Triathlon World Championships

TAMPA, Fla. (Oct. 5, 2017) – IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Holdings company, announced today that the 2017 IRONMAN®World Championship will be broadcast internationally (outside of the United States) on Red Bull TV. Over nine hours of full race coverage from Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i on October 14, 2017 will be available across multiple platforms both live and on demand, making the race accessible to a global audience like never before.

 “This is an extremely exciting year for our incredible professional athletes and fans of the sport as we broaden the broadcast of this extraordinary event,” said Christopher Stadler, Chief Marketing Officer for IRONMAN. “Through this partnership with Red Bull TV, we have taken another major step forward in bringing the IRONMAN World Championship event to an international audience.” 

The IRONMAN World Championship broadcast will be hosted by legendary IRONMAN World Champion and Grand Slam of Triathlon winner Greg Welch (AUS) and multiple IRONMAN Champion Michael Lovato (USA) and will also feature field reporters Matt Lieto (USA) and Charlie Webster (GBR).

The live-action will include new camera angles and aerial imagery and Red Bull TV will have four exclusive 30-minute Facebook Live feeds from varied points on the course. The coverage will put viewers in the heart of the action, while behind-the scenes stories will draw them even closer to the endurance stars chasing the crown on Hawai`i Island’s lava fields.

In addition, IRONMAN: Quest for Kona will now be featured on Red Bull TV internationally (outside of the U.S.). For years, thousands of spectators have witnessed the awe-inspiring live action of the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawai`i in person or through streaming on IRONMAN.com.

This year with addition of Red Bull TV, the 2017 race will reach its largest international audience ever, bringing the raw power and competitive nature of the top endurance athletes in the world, as well as some of the most extraordinary and impactful stories of courage and determination from the age-group athletes and everyday individuals competing alongside them.

Tune in to www.redbull.tv/ironman for coverage of the 2017 IRONMAN World Championship including full live coverage on Saturday, October 14, 2017. Red Bull TV is distributed digitally as an app across mobile phones, tablets, consoles, OTT devices and Smart TVs. If you’re in the United States, tune in to www.ironman.com for live coverage of the event.

IRONMAN names Matthieu Van Veen as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO)

IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Holdings Company, announced today that Matthieu Van Veen has been named to the newly created position of Chief Revenue Officer for IRONMAN. Van Veen will begin his new role with the company on March 13, 2017.

In the new position, Van Veen will be responsible on a global basis for sales, marketing, media and digital activities. His focus will be to create a more structured approach to driving the commercial side of the business.

“As IRONMAN has continued to grow, we have become a more complex organization; one that is operating in more industry segments and in more territories. The structured leveraging of IRONMAN’s vast capabilities and the capturing of best practices is vital for our future success,” said Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer of IRONMAN. “Matthieu’s exemplary international career and personal characteristics give me confidence that he will be successful in this new role.”

Van Veen brings broad skills and experiences to the position. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the global sports industry and joins IRONMAN after nine years with AEG Europe, where he was most recently Senior Vice President of Sports, based in Paris. During that time, Van Veen was responsible for the European leadership and management of AEG’s Sports Divisions which included the creation and management of a portfolio of sports properties for AEG’s European venues; AEG owned teams, Berlin Eisbären of the DEL and Hammarby Fotbol of the Swedish Allsvenskan; development of the partnership between AEG and the Amaury Sports Organization for the Amgen Tour of California; and overall leadership of AEG’s business in France. He was also pivotal in developing the partnership with the City of Paris in the management of the newly renovated AccorHotels Arena, formerly known as Bercy Arena.

Prior to joining AEG, Van Veen served as the National Basketball Association’s Senior Director, Global Media Distribution for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In his role as head of the NBA’s media business, Van Veen was responsible for all television and digital media rights for the NBA, WNBA and USA Basketball. He has worked extensively in all Western European countries, as well as Russia and Turkey.