The IRONMAN Foundation Announces Service Project and Community Giveback for 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship

September 8, 2023

The non-profit will partner with Pure Ocean to raise awareness of endangered ecosystems and highlight solutions to protect them in the Nice region

NICE, France (September 8, 2023)/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The IRONMAN Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization aiming to create positive, tangible change in race communities through grants and volunteerism efforts, has continued its philanthropic efforts at the men’s edition of the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN^® World Championship triathlon taking place in Nice, France on September 10.

Through a partnership with Pure Ocean, an international endowment fund based in Marseille and Lorient, the organizations hosted a snorkeling service project on September 7, to educate IRONMAN athletes and partners about endangered ecosystems by highlighting solutions to protect them through educational conferences, the promotion of races, and sporting challenges.

“We are so excited to be working with Pure Ocean to raise awareness on the importance of protecting the vast marine ecosystems and communities where our athletes live, train and race,” said Audra Tassone-Indeck, Executive Director of The IRONMAN Foundation. “By joining forces, our athletes and staff members have a platform to contribute to the fight against global warming, highlighting solutions while gaining a first-hand look at how our support will be used.”

With the program, The IRONMAN Foundation will be providing a $10,000 USD grant to Pure Ocean along with an additional $30,000 USD in volunteerism grants for local Nice organizations.

“When The IRONMAN Foundation first reached out expressing interest in a partnership, we wanted to ensure those who would be volunteering would not just gain improved knowledge of the ocean system but also participate in activities that would promote exchanges between ocean experts, researchers, businesses and anyone interested in protecting the ocean,” said David Sussman, President and Founder of Pure Ocean. “We look forward to working with the IRONMAN team to make a difference in the local community and wish all athletes the best of luck during this historic event.”

For the first time in history, IRONMAN will host the men’s edition of the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Nice, France. Top professional male triathletes from around the world will compete on Sunday, September 10 along the Côte d’Azur to conquer a 140.6-mile quest, linking an ocean swim, technical hinterland bike course and coastal run. Hosting the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship race on new grounds will test athletic stamina across vast terrains and conditions, providing a platform for consistently brilliant performers to prove themselves as undisputed champions at the pinnacle display of triathlon racing.

For more information on The IRONMAN Foundation, upcoming events, and to how to volunteer, please visit www.ironmanfoundation.org.

To learn more about the upcoming men’s edition of the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon in Nice, France visit www.ironman.com/im-world-championship-nice.

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About Pure Ocean

Pure Ocean is an international endowment fund based in Marseille and Lorient, France. Its main mission is to support innovative applied research projects to better understand and protect marine biodiversity and ecosystems, and to find sustainable solutions to threats to the ocean. Pure Ocean mobilizes and educates civil society on the situation of endangered ecosystems through conferences, races and sporting challenges, and by empowering people to take action through La Goutte Bleue, the movement to encourage waste clean-ups.

About The IRONMAN Foundation

The IRONMAN Foundation creates positive, tangible change in IRONMAN race communities by engaging athletes and volunteers to participate in programs that demonstrate service through sport and commitment to community. Since 2003, over $55,000,000 has been provided through IRONMAN charitable giveback programs, including the IRONMAN Foundation, to more than 10,000 local, regional, national, and global nonprofit initiatives. Through these partnerships, IRONMAN^® Series, Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, and UTMB^® Series participants are powerfully linked to the community and together help leave a positive legacy behind in race communities long after event day. For more information on The IRONMAN Foundation programs, including Team IMF, Community Fund, Race For Change™, Rock This Town^®, and Your Journey Your Cause^®, visit www.ironmanfoundation.org.

About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series trail-running events including the Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB^®, Tarawera Ultra by UTMB^® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB^®, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events including Haute Route^®, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz^® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business, and Orkila Capital, a growth equity firm focused on building great brands. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

About Advance

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 17,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.

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