Herbalife Ltd., a global nutrition and direct-selling company, and the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon announced a three-year agreement naming Herbalife the presenting sponsor and official nutrition company of the event, to be held on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008. For the first time, the triathlon will feature a corporate relay division where companies can field teams vying for the Herbalife Corporate Triathlon Championship.
Now in its ninth year, the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon presented by Herbalife is one of the citys leading sporting and fitness events attracting participants from across the country and around the world. The agreement gives Herbalife rights on all race materials, signage at the event, and booth space at the pre- and race-day expo where Herbalife independent distributors will sample products.
The 2008 event, which is part of the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon Series, has Olympic and sprint distance courses that start at Venice Beach with an ocean swim and travels 24-miles on a bike and run course through some of Los Angeles most historic and memorable landscapes, ending downtown at the Staples Center.
“Health and fitness and the sport of triathlon go hand-in-hand, particularly here in Southern California,” said Jack Caress, Los Angeles Triathlon race director. “Our participants have an inherent interest in nutrition and performance, and the Herbalife partnership and products will be of real importance to them. We are very excited about being able to offer this opportunity to them.”
“The LA Tri is a great opportunity for company leaders to encourage their employees to lead active, healthy lifestyles by supporting teams to participate in the corporate challenge,” said Herbalife Chairman and CEO Michael Johnson, who is also a triathlete. “In addition to Team Herbalife competing, along with several triathletes we sponsor from around the world, were looking forward to our independent distributors cheering on competitors through the streets of LA.”
Herbalife is sponsoring nine triathlons this year around the world, among the 112 fitness and sporting events it supports. The company is the presenting sponsor of the LA Galaxy, and recently announced its sponsorship of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). The company also supports a Wellness for Life program for employees and was voted one of the “15 Fittest Companies in America” by Mens Fitness magazine (February 2008). Over 2000 employees and independent distributors have competed on Team Herbalife in the last several years in events around the world.
