Triathlon New Zealand reacted positively to news of the investment from High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ), and will continue implementing the recommendations from the pre-London 2012 independent review into its High Performance Programme.
Announced yesterday as part of the overall HPSNZ funding round, HPSNZ will invest $1.4 million (annually) in the Tri NZ high performance programme, with Tri NZ high performance director Graeme Maw thrilled at the news.
"We are very pleased with the confidence HPSNZ has shown in our plans," said Maw. "Our discussions and presentations have been very positive, open and honest in terms of what we are looking to achieve and how we plan on achieving in the years ahead, and the investment decision reflects HPSNZ's support for our direction and our athletes.
"The independent review into the 2020 High Performance Programme at Tri NZ formed the basis of those presentations, with the strategy being built on a number of key recommendations, including the appointment of a high performance leadership team, the establishment of a national training hub, raising world class standards and the targeted identification of future talent. To have the endorsement and belief of HPSNZ in the programme and our athletes is fantastic."
HPSNZ expressed a belief in the plan tabled by Tri NZ.
"We're very pleased to continue to support Triathlon as a targeted sport, and we have confidence in their plans for Rio and for 2020 both in the individual events and also the new relay event," says High Performance Sport New Zealand chief executive Alex Baumann.
Triathlon New Zealand has received the investment it requested in order to put in place and then carry out the new HP Strategy, with Maw appreciative of the position HPSNZ finds itself in with demand exceeding supply.
"I don't envy the role that HPSNZ has in allocating a fixed supply of investment across a number of sports, each of which has its own high performance plan to put into effect. This was not made any easier after the London Olympics with the wonderful results that New Zealand achieved.
"I am however delighted that HPSNZ has seen fit to back and have belief in our high performance strategy and plan, one that will include a number of changes as a result of the independent review. The investment will allow us to implement the recommendations from the review in a targeted and effective way; we can now get about building a wonderful programme and give New Zealand triathletes the best platform to deliver great results on the world stage, either as individuals or in the increasingly important area of team relay racing."
Tri NZ chief executive Craig Waugh echoed Maw's sentiments.
"We now have a mandate and strong investment from HPSNZ to go about implementing our high performance plan, as shaped by the 2020 independent review recommendations. This gives our sport and our athletes a strong foundation on which to build and the resources with which to succeed.
"It is important that we are real, uncompromising and accurate in our delivery to be world class and it will require changes in behaviour, attitude and expectations. Something we know is needed to win internationally".
The priority for Maw and the team at Triathlon New Zealand is now to establish the venue for the national training hub and then to appoint the team to work with and alongside national coach Greg Fraine.
"Tri NZ has done considerable work on the venue for the national training hub already and hopes to confirm the location early in the New Year. Once we have that confirmed it is about the people, the talent, the expertise required to deliver to our HP programme. I expect that by the autumn of 2013 the national training hub will 'open its doors' and be operational."
