ITU extends with NTT, adds Asics as global partner

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has renewed its partnership with Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) and agreed a new deal with Japanese sportswear manufacturer Asics.

NTT, a Japanese telco, will continue as a global partner of the ITU and hold the same role with the World Triathlon Series until 2020. NTT first became a global partner of the body in 2016.

The company will also retain its position as the ITU’s exclusive communications and systems integration partner. NTT will hold rights at various events in Japan, Asia and worldwide in the lead-up to the 2020 summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

NTT, which has signed on as a gold partner of Tokyo 2020, will seek to develop the ITU partnership towards 2020 and beyond and strive to improve the event experience for athletes and fans alike.

ITU president Marisol Casado said: "NTT has a proven history of delivering value to clients to the highest standards, which is also one of our main goals at ITU. This great cooperation will help us in our mission to make triathlon accessible to everyone by providing state of the art technological services to athletes, fans and spectators alike. And I want to extend our gratitude to the Japanese Triathlon Union, whose support has been vital for this lasting agreement in the pursuit of growing the sport not only in Japan but globally."

Asics, meanwhile, has joined NTT as a global partner of the ITU as part of a multi-year deal which began yesterday (Thursday).

The ITU said that Asics would support its 2018-21 strategic plan both financially and in terms of sporting equipment.