Organisers hope equal prize money will see more entrants

Euan Megson

• Last Updated: November 04. 2009 10:08PM UAE / November 4. 2009 6:08PM GMT

ABU DHABI // Men and women will enjoy equal footing in sharing the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon’s US$250,000 (Dh918,250) prize purse after organisers revealed attracting the world’s best triathletes, regardless of their sex, is the March 13 showpiece’s key objective.

“Names are being added on a daily basis,” said Jon Hazan, the race’s operations director. “We’re going out to the races, consulting athletes, and seeing if they can fit [the race] in their calendars — we’re keen to encourage male and female professionals to come.”

With the 233km professional distance and 166.5km short course competitions running simultaneously, $20,000 of the ADIT’s purse will be won on the amateur-friendly short route. It is a grass-roots initiative which, according to Team Abu Dhabi Triathlon captain Faris al Sultan, should ensure the Abu Dhabi event is one of the international triathlon calendar’s most competitive.

“Amateurs are the heart and soul of this sport,” said al Sultan. “Ten years ago there was a triathlon based [in Abu Dhabi] and the focus wasn’t on the age groupers enough.

“Our task is to provide a world-class event for the age groupers and the pros. One of the best part of the sport for age groupers is that they compete next to [professionals], on the same course, over the same distances — we are an inspirational sport.”

While the ADIT’s sizeable prize pot is not the sport’s largest, al Sultan believes it demonstrates the emirate’s determination to hold a race the global triathlon community rallies around.

“It’s not [the richest race],” said al Sultan. “The prize money is bigger in Hawaii [the venue of the annual world championships] and there used to be other races where the prize money was bigger.

“But it’s still significant and more than enough to attract people to the race. It is very well balanced and suggests the [Abu Dhabi] race won’t be cheap in any way, but also shows that we’re not going crazy,” added al Sultan.

emegson@thenational.ae