For the third year, Accenture (NYSE:ACN) returns as title sponsor of the IRONMAN® 70.3® California triathlon on Saturday, March 28. The race, which will host nearly 3,000 athletes from around the world in Oceanside, Calif., has raised more than $200,000 for injured service members, veterans and first responders, through the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s (CAF) Operation Rebound program.

Operation Rebound, the official charity of the event, will coordinate 16 permanently injured veterans and first responders to compete as part of Team Operation Rebound. Operation Rebound strengthens the mental and physical well-being of veterans and first responders with permanent physical injuries by providing them opportunities to use sports and fitness to re-integrate into our communities and by empowering them through sports with the skills to succeed in life.

“As a company that thrives on innovation, we’re proud to sponsor the Accenture IRONMAN 70.3 California triathlon, a competition that offers endurance athletes a chance to race in the region that first created the triathlon,” said Gino DiGregorio, a Southern California managing director for Accenture. “This race is also a unique opportunity to support servicemen and women as it underscores our longstanding support of the military community.”

One of more than 80 events in the global IRONMAN 70.3 series, the Accenture IRONMAN 70.3 California triathlon leads athletes along a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run on a course that weaves through many of Oceanside’s most scenic areas. The swim takes place in Oceanside Harbor and the one-loop bike course features breathtaking views as athletes ride through San Clemente State Park before dipping into the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The run course takes athletes on a winding journey along the fishing pier, one of the longest in California, and then out to Oceanside’s flat beachfront path. The event offers a total prize purse of $60,000 and 30 coveted slots to the 2015 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, taking place in Zell am See-Kaprun, SalzburgerLand, Austria, on August 30, 2015.

“It’s not all just beautiful vistas and gorgeous coastline,” said Gina Thomas, race director for the Accenture IRONMAN 70.3 California triathlon. “One particular hill during the bike segment has a 12 percent grade, which follows rolling hills before and two smaller hills afterward – it’s a real test of athletic endurance.”

For more information on Accenture IRONMAN 70.3 California, please visit www.ironmancalifornia.com.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with approximately 319,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$30.0 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2014. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

About the Challenged Athletes Foundation's Operation Rebound® Program

Challenged Athletes Foundation's® (CAF) Operation Rebound® program is the premier sports and fitness program for American military personnel, veterans and first responders with permanent physical disabilities. It provides unparalleled opportunities to pursue active, athletic lifestyles by offering access to funding for equipment and training and competition expenses, Military Medical Center Physical Training (MMCPT) and sports clinics. For more information, visit www.challengedathletes.org/.

About IRONMAN

The iconic IRONMAN® Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races. Recognized for excellence through distinguished events, world-class athletes and quality products, IRONMAN has grown from a single race to a global sensation with more than 190 events across five unique brands: IRONMAN®, IRONMAN 70.3®, 5150™ Triathlon Series, Iron Girl® and IRONKIDS®. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.