Super League Triathlon Wins Most Innovative COVID-19 Response At The Sports Business Awards

Super League Triathlon (SLT) proved themselves, once again, as leaders of innovation in the sporting world, at the Sports Business Awards 2021. SLT bagged the prize for Most Innovative Business Response to COVID 19 – International, at the awards, held yesterday at London’s iconic Kia Oval.

It was Super League’s revolutionary Arena Games event format that took the win, beating developments by major sporting names such as The US Open to the prize.

With COVID-19 wiping out most of the triathlon racing calendar, Super League came up with this innovative new concept to get athletes back racing again in a COVID secure environment. The Arena Games also brought a whole new audience to the sport, by harnessing technology to produce a never-before-seen format.

“At Super League Triathlon we pride ourselves on innovation and it is a great honour to be recognised for that by industry experts at The Sports Business Awards. The Arena Games is not only a response to COVID-19, it is here to stay. We are excited about the role it will play in the future of triathlon.”

Super League Triathlon CEO and Co-Founder, Michael D’hulst

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The inaugural SLT Arena Games was held in Rotterdam, in August 2020. It seamlessly blended real life with virtual racing to deliver a unique and immersive viewing experience. The format was developed by Super League Triathlon in partnership with Zwift, the world’s leading online training and racing platform. Spectators can watch live data as the athletes race, and close-up cameras bring viewers right into the heart of all the action.

Its huge success allowed for further expansion. In 2021 The Arena Games gained a second home, at the London Aquatics Centre, and the addition of para-triathlon racing was developed.

What is the SLT Arena Games?

The SLT Arena Games brings the very best triathletes in the world indoors and pits them against each other across three rounds of fast and furious action. The swim takes place in a 50-metre pool, while the bike and run legs are completed on static equipment. Here, this unique format really comes into its own, as the racing is brought to life in the virtual world of Zwift.

The athletes take on three stages of swim, bike and run, but this is no ordinary triathlon. To add to the challenge, the order of the legs is shuffled every round. Each swim is 200m, bike 4km and run 1km, guaranteeing maximum excitement for the crowd and maximum suffering for the best of the best.

Now, with all eyes set on 2022, Super League plans on taking the SLT Arena Games from strength to strength. 

“This new format of racing has grown out of nowhere and keeps on growing and growing.” Said triathlon legend and SLT Eagles Team Manager Tim Don. 

The future is looking bright for triathlon, coming out of the COVID- 19 period, and you can be sure that Super League Triathlon is going to be right at the forefront, innovating, disrupting, and changing the game.