Czechoslovakia was at the birth of triathlon, which started in 1980. This archive also includes all international and domestic negotiations from this time, e.g. The establishments of both The European Triathlon Union, and The World Triathlon Federation. The archive provides unique collections, photographs and letters (many hand-written) about the history of the Iron Man.
History of the archive
“The mission of this exciting archive is to bring the incredible story of the history of triathlon, from it‘s very beginning all the way up to the modern age, to all people and to make it accessible for all future generations.“ Vaclav Vitovec“.
The story of Mr. Vítovec
Václav Vítovec is the father of triathlon in the Czech Republic. There are few global sports industries whose birth was in Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia stood at the cradle of the organizational expansion of triathlon in Europe and the world. Mr. Vítovec started the legendary Iron Man in Pilsen, initiated the founding of the European Triathlon Union and participated in the creation of the World Triathlon Union. Václav Vítovec is a collector of unique historical documents and letters. He is connected by personal relationships with people who were at the very beginning of triathlon. In the first 12 years (1980-1992) he participated in all meetings. He contributed to triathlon becoming an Olympic discipline with its premiere in 2000 in Sydney. Now in Pilsen, he is building a triathlon museum and a digital archive of the history of triathlon.
What is included in the digitization of 600 kg of historical documents?
Unique original information and documents that were behind the birth of the ETU - European Triathlon Union (the first international triathlon organization), which today includes 32 countries as members; also the ITU (World Triathlon Union), which includes over 150 countries.
The original 50+ "Triathlete Magazine", edited by Harald Johnson
Photodocumentation, e.g. Colonel John Collins; Colonel Collins is the founder of world‘s first triathlon competition, located in Hawaii in 1978, known as Ironman. Also other amazing photodocumentation of the first competitions from Hawaii and other countries. Photodocumentation of all meetings and negotiations of both the European Triathlon Union (ETU) and the International Triathlon Union (ITU). Photodocumentation of all preparatory meetings with the International Olympic Committee under the patronage of Juan Antonio Samaranch and Gunnar Ericsson.
A collection of historical posters. Scorecards and records from triathlon competitions taking place in Czechoslovakia in the early 80‘s and 90‘s. Documents and materials from the founding of the Czechoslovak Triathlon Federation and the Czech Triathlon Federation. Documents from the negotiations to obtain Olympic status for triathlon. Minutes of General Assemblies. Many newspaper clippings and hundreds of letters. Historical medals.
File in TIFF format in original quality (163 MB) you can download.
File in TIFF format in original quality (24 MB) you can download.
File in TIFF format in original quality (59,5 MB) you can download.
File in TIFF format in original quality (12,7 MB) you can download.
Some examplex of digitization
File (the postetr) in TIFF format in original quality (249 MB) you can download.
Digitization on i2S book scanners
The scanning took place on i2S CopiBook A2 and A1 format planetary scanners and the i2S SupraScan large-format scanner, which are designed to digitize cultural heritage with maximum care for historical artifacts. The scanners ensure the preservation of the original quality of the original documents, which are digitally archived for future hockey generations.