Triathlon New Zealand today tabled their independent review into the Triathlon High Performance Programme (HPP), a document commissioned by the NSO to ensure they remain at the global leading edge in producing elite triathletes who in turn will be successful at pinnacle events.
Authored by Brendon O'Connor of O'Connor Sinclair under the guidance of a 8 person steering committee (including independent members), the objective of the report was to establish whether the current HPP model will realise the objectives of the HPP in 2016 and 2020 and in reaching its conclusions, make recommendations as to the future shape of the HPP.
O'Connor says the report is the result of detailed research into the current HPP and has encompassed wide ranging views and opinion in coming to its conclusions and recommendations, the most notable of which is the appointment of a High Performance Director and an overhaul of the structure in place to best utilise available resources.
"It is thanks to an open minded NSO with an appetite to improve and stay ahead of the game; the sterling and honest work of a hugely talented group of people on the steering committee and the 40 stakeholders who have been interviewed and offered their insights that we have been able to present a robust and thorough review of the current HPP.
"The near 6 months of research, interviews and consultation has led us to key conclusions and subsequent recommendations as to the sports best chance to deliver continued strong international results in a fast growing and developing sport."
High Performance Sport New Zealand chief executive Alex Baumann said Triathlon New Zealand was thinking ahead and had initiated the independent review as part of its strategy to keep its athletes at the forefront of the sport in the next eight to 10 years.
"We do believe in the process of review to ensure that high performance programmes are moving forward. Triathlon New Zealand initiated that step as it does want to be a leader in high performance sport, and we commend that."
Tri NZ CEO Craig Waugh says the next phase is to begin work on the implementation of the recommendations.
"The Board has accepted and ratified the report and in doing so acknowledged the work of O'Connor Sinclair, the Steering Committee and indeed the contribution of all who were interviewed and played their part in helping shape the future of the HPP.
"It was important to us that we looked at the HPP from an independent perspective. The review was purposefully timed to be undertaken pre London 2012, so that we remain objective and focused on 2020, not today. The sport is young, we are evolving rapidly the time was right for it first independent review.
"With the help of the Board and the staff at Tri NZ, we will now manage the implementation of the key recommendations and begin work on some of the detail that will flow on from the recommended model and key principles.
"Triathlon New Zealand is committed to a continuation of the very high standards that those before today have set for rest of the world to follow but the sport is evolving quickly and it is evident that if you hesitate for a moment, you will be overtaken in what is quickly becoming a truly global sport with depth and quality light years ahead of where it was ten, even five years ago."
