The organizational influence of a GB triathlon team - Assignment Example

The Organizational Influence of a GB Triathlon Team Triathlon is perhaps one of the hot favourites and by far the most promising aspect of the British Olympic family. Britain, which had held the claim of harboring five current world champions across all age groups till the last year, can now bask in the currently acquired Olympic glory of gold medallist Alistair Brownlee and bronze medallist Jonathan Brownlee. But this victory is not just the triumph of an athlete or a team. It is the achievement of a nation, and the various organizations within that nation that had lent a supporting hand to both the sport and the athletes.

Part of the credit goes to the sports associations, foundations, research teams, sponsors, funding partners, and suppliers whose contribution cannot be undermined. Out of all these organizations, the two which have had a pivotal impact on the performance of the British Triathlon team at the London Olympics are the British Triathlon Federation and the sponsors of the British Triathlon team. The British Triathlon Federation is a congregation of the national triathlon associations of England, Scotland, and Wales.

It conducts domestic events in London, Liverpool and other such prime locations within Britain in the form of GB Elite events, para-triathlon and age-group teams. It also serves in various international events in conjunction with the services of all the three home nations. It provides a world-class atmosphere for aspiring domestic and international athletes through its various talent opportunities, superb coaching, training centers and long-distance sports events. Besides, it appreciates the valuable contributions of the leading sports persons in the nation through the Gold Pin Awards.

The British Triathlon Federation ensures the strict implementation of the Anti-Doping Policy recommended by the World Anti-Doping Agency to safeguard the integrity and legacy of British sports. Another measure to ensure this is the British Triathlon Federation’s Rule Book of policies and procedures that promote a spirit of sportsmanship through equal opportunity, fair play and adequate safety measures. These measures help the players to enjoy the feeling of joy associated with sports, and also enable them to experience the inherent aspects of challenge and achievement (The British Triathlon Federation’s official website).

The British Triathlon Foundation Trust works with the mission of creating opportunities for aspiring players and imparting education to them through participation in events across Britain. It encourages participation through volunteering, training and employment. It aims at social inclusion of all by bringing people together through sports. It also looks forward to building equality of access to sports for all without any discrimination. The Foundation regards the London Olympics 2012 as a great opportunity to inspire young triathletes, to engage with new audience, and to raise funds for supporting its new projects.

All these activities would have served as a catalyst for the growth of the sport in England. Moreover, UK’s Sports Research and Innovation Team also worked closely with the British Triathlon Federation to help in the evaluation of technical aspects such as athlete positioning and equipment selection, design and development (“Sport-by-Sport”). The sponsors of the British Triathlon team have also played a phenomenal role in creating Britain’s success story at the Olympics. The sponsors, funding partners, and suppliers such as Tata Steel, Maxifuel, Fedex and General Electric have contributed a lot in bringing the federation to the forefront of Olympic sports.

They have helped to expand the profile of the sport, and encouraged the level of participation in it. For instance, General Electric, a partner of the British Triathlon teams, extended its full support and expertise to prepare the teams for the upcoming challenge. It shared with the players its healthcare technology, in the form of latest medical imaging equipment, to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of the pre-game injuries of the players. Besides, GE promised to support this sport in Britain by sponsoring various elite events, age group teams, regional sports academies, and coach development programs (Wilson).

It is a well-known anecdote that success is the culmination of the joint efforts of the person who succeeds, and the forces that lead him to his success. Hence, it is clearly evident that the success of a team at an international platform such as the Olympics is not a working of the athlete alone. It is a synergy achieved by the coordinated efforts of the player, and the organizations that support him in paving his path to victory. Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee was absolutely right when he asserted that the contribution of the British Triathlon Federation and the sponsors “could make a significant difference as we strive to be the best in London 2012” (Culp).

Works Cited Culp, Brad. “GE to Sponsor British Triathlon in Lead Up to London 2012.” Triathlon.Org, 2010. Web. November 21, 2013. http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/ge_to_sponsor_british_triathlon_in_lead_up_to_london_2012. “Sport-by-Sport – Triathlon.” UK Sport, 2012. Web. November 21, 2013. http://www.uksport.gov.uk/sport/summer/triathlon. The British Triathlon Federation’s official website, 2013. Web. November 21, 2013. http://www.britishtriathlon.org. Wilson, Steve. “British Triathlon Announces Partnership with London 2012 Olympics Sponsor GE.

” The Telegraph 2010. Web. November 21, 2013. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/triathlon/7657851/British-Triathlon-announces-partnership-with-London-2012-Olympics-sponsor-GE.html.