T100 Athletes Take Part In Ibiza Beach Clean

September 27, 2024

Ibiza, Spain/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – T100 triathletes took time out from their preparation for the Ibiza T100 Triathlon to take part in a beach clean on Figueretas Beach this afternoon.

Spanish stars Sara Perez Sala and Antonio Benito Lopez where joined by a host of the world’s best triathletes – including Britain’s Kat Matthews, American’s Taylor Knibb and Taylor Spivey, Canadian’s Tamara Jewett and Paula Findlay, Bermuda’s Flora Duffy, Denmark’s Daniel Baekkegard, Germany’s Fred Funk, Max Sperl and Mika Noodt, France’s Sam Laidlow, Belgium’s Pieter Heemeryck and Australia’s Josh Amberger – to pick up waste and raise awareness for the importance of not littering or using single use drinking items – ahead of Saturday’s professional and age group races, including the Middle Distance Spanish Cup, that will start with 2km open water sea swims off Figueretas Beach.

“If we all do our bit, it will help everyone, not only to compete, but also to enjoy a clean and more sustainable environment,” said Antonio Benito. While Sara Perez Sala explained that: “right now all sports must take care of the environment. For years we have been taking the gels and keeping them in our pockets instead of throwing them away. We encourage all fans and all athletes to avoid the use of single-use plastic bottles by bringing their own bottles and using reusable cups.”

Daniel Baekkegard added: “I have lived by the ocean most of my life, so I know how important it is for local people who depend on it, as well as the ecosystems within it. These events are a great way to raise awareness of plastic pollution within our athlete community and further afield.”

The group, who were joined by a local alliance of several environmental organisations called Plastic Free Ibiza, collected more than 24kg of waste, made up of 3.5kg of cigarette butts (more than 4,000 in total), 9kg of plastic containers and cans, 3kg of glass, 1kg of paper and cardboard and 7.5kg of other items.

The activity supports the Balearic Islands’ recent push to mandate reusable drinking vessels and eliminate single use beverage containers in sporting events across Ibiza; in line with pioneering changes to Spanish and Balearic laws.

The beach councillor of the Ibiza City Council, Rubén Sousa, attended in person and thanked the group, saying: “It is important to raise awareness about the activity we generate on the beach, and this is one of the best ways. Apart from having a positive impact on our city with the celebration of this sporting event, the fact that the T100 athletes and FETRI also committed themselves to the environment is very much appreciated.”

“As well as encouraging everyone to get involved in the Ibiza T100 Triathlon weekend – whether that’s doing the amateur 100km triathlon on Sunday morning, one of the open water swims on Friday evening or cheering on our amazing professionals on Saturday – we are also committed to working our partners, the Spanish Triathlon Federation and Ibiza City Council, to help turn the tide on single use plastics on the island,” said Professional Triathletes Organisation CEO Sam Renouf. “Which is why along with organising this afternoon’s beach clean, we’ll also be donating a share of the money from our open water swims on Friday night to the Plastic Free Ibiza, who do great on the island to ensure it keeps its natural beauty.”

“We are grateful to the athletes and the PTO for supporting our work in protecting Ibiza’s environment,” said Sofia Ribas, Coordinator, Plastic Free Ibiza & Formentera. “The link between sport and biodiversity is clear and our health depends on healthy ecosystems. The beach clean-up was a fun and powerful way to raise awareness. Once you’ve taken part, you’ll never look at litter the same way again!”

The racing gets under way with the professional men starting at 0800 local time on Saturday 28 September, with the broadcast starting 15 minutes earlier at 0745. The professional women will start at 1030. The open water swims (500m, 1km and 2km) take place on Friday evening from 1800 with registration still open from 10 Euros.

Notes To Editors:

• The beach clean was one action from the event’s sustainability plan, promoted by the Good Loop movement. Information and advice on what participants can do over the weekend to play their part has been included in all the athlete guides and will be delivered during each of the participant briefings.
• The PTO recently furthered its commitment to building a sustainable business by committing to reduce its Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 50% by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2040. This was part of an ongoing pledge it has made as a signatory of the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework (S4CA) and Race to Zero initiatives, which it made in 2023. This year, the PTO defined its ESG Strategic Priorities, completed a full Greenhouse Gas Assessment and developed a Climate Transition Action Plan. For more details on their social and environmental sustainability journey, visit here.

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For Further Information:

Anthony Scammell E: Anthony.Scammell@protriathletes.org

About Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO)

The PTO is a sports body that is co-owned by its professional athletes, seeking to elevate and grow the sport of triathlon and take it to the next level. The T100 Triathlon World Tour is the new name for the PTO Tour and has been designated by World Triathlon as the ‘official World Championship for long distance triathlon’. It is a season-long schedule of eight T100 races during 2024 that will be competed over 100km (2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run) and will feature the world’s best triathletes going head-to-head in Miami (9 March), Singapore (13-14 April), San Francisco (8-9 June), London (27-28 July), Ibiza (28-29 September), Lake Las Vegas (19-20 October) and the Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final (16-17 November). There are also racing opportunities for amateurs at all the events, including the new 100km distance at six stages, including: Singapore, London, Ibiza, Lake Las Vegas, Dubai and at the Grand Final. The global broadcast shows the races live around the world in 195+ territories, courtesy of the PTO’s partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery as well as a range of other international, regional and local broadcasters.

About FETRI

The Spanish Triathlon Federation is a private entity of public utility, egalitarian, inclusive and socially committed to the environment and sustainability. She leads the practice of triathlon, paratriathlon and their different disciplines, being represented in the governing bodies of the most important international institutions of this sport. Throughout his more than 30 years he has achieved multiple successes for Spanish sport, including nine World Championships, a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games and more than 30 victories in the World Series, among others.