Standard Bank Group kicks off IRONMAN® South Africa sponsorship

Standard Bank Group is pleased to mark its newly formed partnership with IRONMAN® South Africa at this year's 70.3. The event will take place in Buffalo City, the gateway to the Eastern Cape's Sunshine Coast and Wild Coast, two of the province's flagship tourism regions.

This year is the first time Standard Bank Group will be sponsoring IRONMAN® 70.3 South Africa, the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Standard Bank IRONMAN® 70.3 South Africa is looking forward to welcoming a record number of participants for a fourth consecutive year, with more than 3 000 athletes expected to line up at Orient Beach at the start of the event on 25 January 2015.

"One of the reasons that Standard Bank undertook to sponsor the domestic IRONMAN® series, was that we felt these flagship occasions on the local triathlon calendar exemplified all the ideals that we strive to uphold in our own business: hard work, dedication, endurance and a commitment to be in it for the long haul," Jenny Pheiffer, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at Standard Bank. "The hard work and dedication of all the athletes competing in this event have helped to grow it into one of the biggest Half IRONMAN® gatherings in the world."

Standard Bank Group's newly formed partnership with IRONMAN® South Africa will help to grow the event and take it to new heights, by delivering the best possible athlete experience for all those competing. The involvement of Standard Bank Group in the 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21.1km run along the picturesque coastal landscape of Buffalo City, will help cement IRONMAN® 70.3 South Africa status as one of Africa's most prestigious endurance events.

"IRONMAN® 70.3 South Africa encapsulates all the qualities that are universally admired - grit, determination, the desire to succeed and to never stop moving forward," said Ms Pheiffer. "As a trusted partner in this event, Standard Bank wishes all participating athletes the very best of luck for the 70.3 miles that stand between them and glory."

www.standardbank.co.za/ironman