The International Triathlon Union (ITU) confirmed the locations of multiple World Championship events on Tuesday, after an ITU Executive Board meeting held in conjunction with the World Triathlon in Yokohama.

“We had a great amount of interest from cities in hosting an ITU event, and received some truly incredible bids for not only triathlon, but also for multisport races,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “Triathlon has a very bright future with so many spectacular sites secured to host races in the next several years.”

The 2018 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final has been granted to the Gold Coast, which has hosted World Championship races in 1991 and 2009.

The host of the 2018 Commonwealth Games hosted the World Triathlon Series for the first time this year and is expected to welcome the Series again in 2016 and 2017, before both elite and age group athletes compete for World Championship titles in 2018. 

“This is a fantastic result for Queensland and triathlon, we are very excited to be able to host the world’s best ITU age group and professional athletes here on the Gold Coast,” said IRONMAN Asia-Pacific CEO Geoff Meyer.

Leeds will now host the World Triathlon Series in 2016, taking the place of World Triathlon London. A cycling superhighway is being built throughout the Yorkshire city, with construction work to take place in Hyde Park in 2016.

“It’s fantastic news that Leeds’ bid has been successful,” said reigning Olympic champion and Leeds resident Alistair Brownlee.

“I am sure the crowds will come out in force to see a major triathlon event in Leeds for the first time, and I’m sure it will be a brilliant event. 

Leeds serves as the training grounds for several of the UK’s top triathletes. 

In addition to the World Triathlon Series announcements, the ITU Executive Board voted on several multisport championship events. 

In 2017, Penticton, Canada will organize the first Multisport World Championships Festival, which will see duathlon, long distance triathlon, aquathlon and cross triathlon championship races organized together during a week-long festival.

This innovative format now allows for athletes to compete in various multisport races, as opposed to electing only one each season. 

“We are extremely honoured to be chosen to host the 2017 Multisport World Championships,” said race director Michael Brown. “Penticton has a deep history in triathlon and we look to build on a strong foundation created by this great community. With the support of the city, the Mayor, his council and all of Penticton’s citizens I know we will create a 10-day festival that will live up to all the athletes expectations.”

The Executive Board awarded the 2018 Multisport Festival to Odense, Denmark.

Lake Crackenback, Australia has been announced as the site of the 2016 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships – the last year that will see each multisport World Championships organized as stand-alone events.

 “This is fantastic news for the sport of triathlon in Australia,” said Anne Gripper, CEO of Triathlon Australia.

“To have the world’s best elite and age group athletes competing on the Gold Coast in 2018, as well as in the magnificent Snowy Mountains at Cross Triathlon World Championships in 2016, provides Australian triathletes of all ages with a great incentive to train and compete over the next three years as they strive to wear the green and gold on home soil.”

The ITU also confirmed that it will be suspending its membership of SportAccord, with the International Weightlifting Federation following suit to take the number of Olympic sport federations leaving SportAccord to ten.  

ITU said it will shortly release the bidding conditions for the 2016 Triathlon World Cup events, the 2017 World Triathlon Series races, the 2019 World Triathlon Grand Final, and the 2019 Multisport Festival. The full 2016 ITU World Triathlon Series will also be announced soon. 

The European Sports Championships, which will bring together triathlon, swimming, rowing and cycling for the first time in Glasgow in 2018, is set to be a major boost to the profile of the sport due to the broadcast reach of the new multi-sports event, the leaders of the International and European Triathlon Unions told HOST CITY.

Expectations are also high of the host city of Glasgow.

“The reason we the ETU are so excited about Triathlon being part of the ESC in Glasgow 2018 is the opportunity it gives our sport to reach a much wider audience than we can possibly achieve on our own,”Renato Bertrandi, president of the European Triathlon Federation told HOST CITY.

“Joining up with other major sports like swimming, rowing and athletics means that we can benefit from the power of aggregation. Collectively we become attractive to the EBU and their support means that we will be able to reach the living rooms of television viewers in all European countries. 

“At a stroke this event will dramatically increase the profile of triathlon. In particular the screening of our innovative mixed team relay event will serve to enhance its credibility and help to cement its place in future Olympic Games programmes."

Hosting triathlon events will be one of many hot topics at HOST CITY 2015, with Antonio Fernandez Arimany, director general of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) to speak there again after the great success of HOST CITY Bid to Win in 2014.

“ITU, together with our European Continental Confederation, are supporting this 2018 EU Championships because triathlon is a growing sport and our strategy is to be present in all important multisport competitions,” Arimany told HOST CITY.

“Also the 2018 EU Championships will provide the sport of triathlon an important promotional platform of the sport, since TV broadcasting will be done around all the EU.”

The European Sports Championships also features athletics, which will take place in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium at the same time as the multi-sports events in Glasgow. The opening ceremony will also take place in Glasgow.

Arimany said he expects the event to be organised very well by its Glasgow hosts. 

“Regarding our expectations with Glasgow, we are very confident that the organisation will be on a very high level, because of the experience of Glasgow with the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and also because the British Triathlon Federation is involved in the delivery of the event in Glasgow.”

Environmental and infrastructure work at Strathclyde Loch, the host venue of the Commonwealth Games Triathlon event, has progressed to the point where Games organisers have announced that it will be ready to test on May 24th.

Glasgow 2014 is preparing the loch to comply with the standards set by the International Triathlon Union.  The loch has in the past suffered from high levels of blue-green algae. 

To prevent algae blooms from happening during the 2014 Commonwealth Games, a designated swim area has been created, separated from the main loch using a series of engineered physical barriers.

The separated area of water was then treated with Phoslock, a non-toxic phosphorous reducing chemical. This chemical treatment was also used to prepare the Serpentine Loch for the London 2012  Olympic Games Triathlon and Marathon Swim competitions. 

In addition to the ongoing water treatment works, roads, paths and venue infrastructure are being upgraded to maintain Strathclyde Park’s status as one of Scotland’s premier watersports centres and a proven world-class Triathlon venue.

 “I am truly excited at the prospect of world-class athletes striving for Gold and glory during the Games, which was the driving force for all the work done,” said Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive David Grevemberg.

“We are grateful to all our Partners and stakeholders, including the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council, during a combined effort from all parties to prepare the Loch to international standards.

A company called Sniffer has played a major role in the works. “Sniffer has worked with all the partners to facilitate a practical and cost-effective approach to preparing the loch and wider area for the triathlon events within a tight timeframe,” said Ruth Wolstenholme, Managing Director Sniffer. 

“We are very pleased with the progress and are confident that the events will be a great credit to Strathclyde Park and those who have worked to ensure their success.”

The Invitational Triathlon takes place at Strathclyde Country Park on Saturday 24 May. “The event will provide an opportunity to validate our Games Time policies and procedures to ensure we are in a position to deliver the best competition experience during the Glasgow 2014 Triathlon event,” said the Organsing Committee, which is hosting the test event.

During the Games, the Triathlon takes place on July 24 and July 26, with three medal events including the new Mixed Team Relay making its Commonwealth Games debut.

More than 100,000 extra tickets across all 17 sports, including Triathlon as well as both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, will be available from 10 AM on Monday 12 May on a first-come, first-served basis.

[Source: supertri] Cities around the globe are invited to bid for the opportunity to host this groundbreaking annual World Championship event, which seamlessly blends real-life and virtual racing, crowning the official Esports Triathlon World Champions in partnership with World Triathlon.

supertri E is known for its high-octane racing, featuring the world’s best athletes competing in-stadia, safe from any adverse weather conditions. The unique format includes swimming in Olympic pools and bike and run disciplines completed on smart trainers and self-powered curved treadmills, all integrated into a virtual race environment. The event’s broadcast brings these elements together, delivering an immersive and captivating experience for viewers.

“We are thrilled to open the bidding process for cities to host the supertri E World Triathlon Championship,” said Michael Dhulst, CEO of supertri. “Our goal is to inspire and entertain, creating an unparalleled experience for athletes and fans alike. Host cities will benefit from extensive media coverage and the chance to showcase their commitment to innovation and sport.”

supertri E, created in 2020 under the name Arena Games Triathlon, has redefined the sport of triathlon. The innovative format, recognized for its blend of Olympic-level athleticism and cutting-edge virtual technology, featured at the IOC’s Olympic Esports Week and continues to revolutionize the sporting world. 

“supertri E represents the future of triathlon, combining the best of real and virtual racing,” said Marisol Casado, President of World Triathlon. “We are excited to partner with cities that share our vision of promoting health, wellbeing, and the spirit of competition through this innovative format.”

PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE HOST CITY BID INFORMATION DOCUMENT HERE

The supertri E World Triathlon Championship has a proven track record of success, attracting thousands of spectators to venues and millions of viewers through TV and streaming. In 2023 alone, the event aired on 15 broadcasters across 135 countries and reached 25.4m households. The digital video views grew 92% between 2022 and 2023 reaching 25m. Previous host cities include London, Rotterdam, Montreal, Munich, and Singapore.

Cities chosen to host supertri E will gain significant media exposure and  become part of the future of the sport. The event is highly adaptable, able to take place both indoors and outdoors, and is delivered as a turnkey solution with supertri E providing all necessary technology and operational support.

The event featured many of the sport’s most celebrated athletes, including:

• Jonny Brownlee - Most decorated Olympian in triathlon history
• Beth Potter - 2023 WTCS World Champion
• Léo Bergere - 2022 WTCS World Champion
• Cassandre Beaugrand - France’s pick for Paris Gold
• Alex Yee - Olympic Gold & Silver Medalist
• Lisa Tertsch - Up-and-coming German powerhouse
• Kate Waugh - 2023 supertri Champion
• Hayden Wilde - 2022 supertri Champion
• Jeanne Lehair - 2023 supertri runner-up
• Matthew Hauser - Commonwealth Games multi-medalist
• Kristian Blummenfelt - Olympic Gold Medalist
• Georgia Taylor-Brown - Olympic multi-medalist, 2021 supertri champion

supertri E offers more than entertainment. In collaboration with the local triathlon federation and triathlon clubs, the event has also provided participation opportunities for the community in the build-up to the main event. By adding  age group racing and corporate challenges to the program, supertri E can engage local enthusiasts and add to the positive impact of the event to the local community. Youth and Junior races as well as Para racing can also be part of the program, offering talent development opportunities and inspiring the next generation of local champions.

As such, the impact of hosting the event is measured across a range of parameters, including economy, image, society, sport, and environment. Key findings of impact reports produced for recent events hosted in Montreal and London in 2022 and 2023 revealed compelling statistics, such as that 65% of spectators came from outside the host economy and 85% of spectators were inspired to engage in more sport and physical activity.

Interested cities must submit their applications before 15th August 2024. The selection and announcement of the Host City will take place in November  2024.

PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE HOST CITY BID INFORMATION DOCUMENT HERE

[Source: World Triathlon] Organisers of the World Triathlon Multisport Championships have today announced that the event will be heading to Townsville, Australia, in 2024. The 10-day event will be held in the charming town in North Queensland in 2024, with thousands of athletes from around the world expected to take part.

The World Triathlon Multisport Championships will see duathlon, long distance triathlon, long distance aquabike, aquathlon, cross triathlon and cross duathlon world championship races organized together during a week-long festival. This ground-breaking event now allows for athletes to compete in various multisport races, as opposed to electing only one each season. And participants can even vie for the Multisport Legend, a title reserved for those who compete in four events.

World Triathlon President and IOC member Marisol Casado said that the organisation was looking forward to heading to Townsville in 2024. "We are absolutely delighted to return to Queensland after such a long time without events in Australia, this time for one of our flagship events: the Multisport World Championships in Townsville,” she said. “Over the last years, Australia has become synonymous of triathlon on its multiple variations, and has proved to be a magnificent host for the triathlon family, playing host to some truly memorable performances and great champions, staging races the results of which have helped shape the path of entire seasons.

“Being able to hold these important races in one fantastic location and all under the banner of one festival has proved to be hugely beneficial for athletes, spectators and media alike, allowing the global World Triathlon family the opportunity to gather together for a true celebration of the sport, and we are extremely excited to head to Townsville in 2024,” she said.

Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said the Multisport World Championships cemented Townsville’s place as the sporting events capital of northern Australia. “I’m looking forward to seeing the Multisport World Championships come to life here in the North, bringing together thousands of elite and age-group athletes,” Mr Stewart said. “The Palaszczuk Government is proud to support the Multisport World Championships because we understand the importance of events to local jobs and Townsville’s visitor economy.

“This event is great news for North Queensland tourism operators, accommodation and transport providers, and local retailers,” he said. “It’s also a golden opportunity for competitors and spectators to build extra time into their stay to explore Townsville’s amazing tourism and Indigenous cultural experiences, world-class dining, the reef, and breathtaking tropical islands and rainforests.”

Mayor Jenny Hill said the Townsville City Council and the wider community was looking forward to welcoming the Multisport World Championships to the city.

“Hosting this event is a real coup of Townsville and further reinforces our city’s reputation as the events capital of Northern Australia,” Cr Hill said. “With our beautiful natural environment and ideal weather, I can think of no better place for the world’s best athletes to test their skills and endurance.

“The championships will also provide a platform to promote our city and region to the world, which will boost our tourism industry for years to come.”

Miles Stewart OAM OLY, Triathlon Australia CEO, welcomed news that the event would be held in Townsville in 2024. “This is fantastic news for triathlon and multisport in Australia, and for our members who have been anticipating, and looking forward to racing and officiating at these world championships on home soil,” said Stewart. “We’re expecting our largest Australian representative team on record for Townsville 2024 with seven championships on the schedule from cross-triathlon, aquathlon to long course.

“The festival format will mean athletes can race across multiple disciplines on multiple days, which is really exciting, and will be a great boost for Australian events with athletes racing to qualify for a spot on the team from 2023,” he said. “Australia has some of the best triathlon events in the world, and we can’t wait to welcome the world’s best to Townsville, and continue to build on our legacy of hosting world-class events.

Official dates for the Townsville Multisport World Championships will be announced in the near future.

The World Triathlon Multisport Championships made its debut in the World Triathlon calendar in 2017 in Penticton (Canada), a successful event that was followed by Fyn (Denmark) in 2018 and Pontevedra (Spain) in 2019. After the event being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, in 2021 the races were held in multiple locations (Almere, El Anillo and Aviles). In 2022 the event will travel to Romania and Slovakia, and will return to the original format of all races in one location during a 10-day festival in Ibiza (Spain) in 2023 and Townsville (Australia) in 2024.

[Source: Super League Triathlon] Following on from the recent news of a groundbreaking partnership between World Triathlon and Super League Triathlon to grow a global esports world championship series – Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift – we are proud to announce the three cities chosen to host these races in 2022:

Arena Games Triathlon 2022 Locations:

•             April 9 2022: Munich, Germany at Olympia-Schwimmhalle

•             April 23 2022: London, UK at London Aquatics Centre

•             May 7 2022: Singapore Grand Final

The Arena Games Triathlon is a trailblazing concept pioneered by Super League Triathlon, grown from an ambition to drive competitive triathlon throughout the global pandemic. 2021 saw the first multi-city version of the Games set in Rotterdam and London; the recent partnership with World Triathlon means the Arena Games Triathlon will be bigger and better than ever in 2022, with a return to London (23rd April), a first Arena Games Triathlon event in Munich (9th April), and an inaugural Grand Final in Singapore (7th May).

We are working with all relevant authorities to host the events in accordance to local safety protocols and Covid regulations.

The blend of real-life and virtual reality racing provides an immersive viewing experience that allows fans to get up close and personal with the best triathletes in the world without leaving the comfort of their seat. The event also gives esport fans, and lovers of sports statistics, the chance to enjoy live data from the athletes in real time. Born in the COVID era but promising a new generation of stars, the Arena Games Triathlon is the future of indoor racing.

Each event will contribute points to the World Triathlon World Ranking, and the athletes who collect the most points over the course of the series will be awarded the first-ever triathlon esport World Titles in Singapore. All three venues will see the return of fast and furious Elite racing, offering an incredible spectator experience for the fans.

“We are delighted to welcome three amazing cities such as London, Munich and Singapore to our roster of hosts - we cannot think of a better scenario for the 2022 season of the Arena Games Triathlon. The three events offer a combination of vast experience of triathlon events, Olympic tradition and great hosting capabilities, so I am sure that both athletes and fans will enjoy it. We cannot wait for the start of the esports season!”, said World Triathlon President and IOC Member, Marisol Casado.

“We have continued to innovate during the pandemic, and the pinnacle of that is our Arena Games Triathlon, which we recently announced the partnership with World Triathlon. It's very exciting to see the first World Series of Triathlon esport coming together and announce this powerful line up with iconic locations. This series will be a milestone in triathlon’s history and these venues will really do that justice!” explained Michael D’hulst, CEO and co-founder of Super League Triathlon.

World Triathlon and Super League will collaborate on all aspects of Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift, including scheduling, participating athletes, involvement of national federations, promotion, broadcasters, host venues and amplifying the reach of the events.

I am very proud to see the achievements of Super League over the last three years.

In 2019 we decided to grow the organisation, build out a team in London and, in arguably one of the hardest times for the event industry, we have truly established ourselves as an organisation that has substance.

We have extended our content offering, added a second series with the Arena Games and put together our best ever Championship Series in iconic venues featuring a new team concept.

Looking back and reflecting on 2021 as I am, I feel I also really need to take into account 2020 given the way the world has gone.

When you look at the triathlon landscape it makes me very proud. To deliver three Arena Games events – an entirely new concept – during COVID times was exceptional, as well as delivering our most exciting Championship Series since we launched in 2017.

To put it into context within our sport, the PTO has done many great things but in terms of events it also has a new concept and in three years have partnered on one event with Challenge and delivered one themselves. Many Ironman races have been cancelled including Kona and even World Triathlon’s schedule has been impacted.

Iconic locations

We brought the Championship Series back in iconic venues: London, Munich, Jersey, Malibu. We had the best in the world racing for four weeks back-to-back and the Series for both male and females was won on the last run of four weeks of racing!

Over the last two years SLT has grown from a great concept to a brand, and a league that has substance, a solid fan base, broadcasters invested in it and athletes committing to it.

Any organisation, even if the idea is the greatest and the team is strong, needs maturity to show substance, and without substance even a great idea and a strong team can fail.

Big things to come

For the Arena Games we are now partnering with World Triathlon to drive this into the next Olympics.

What does that mean? That a young, dynamic organisation can deliver a concept that is considered even by a traditional organisation such as a governing body as part of the future of the sport. Also that the Super League as an organisation has enough substance for World Triathlon to jump on to the boat with us.

It adds kudos and credibility and enhances the offering for sponsors, partners, hosts and investors that want to come on board.

Behind all of this sits an organisation that not only delivered these events, but has never failed to deliver.

From a media perspective the Championship Series was deemed thrilling to the last. The broadcast feedback was unanimously positive and in terms of PR and digital we have continued to grow substantially and can now claim to be the most engaged triathlon property.

It’s been a challenging couple of years for everybody, but Super League has emerged from it far stronger and ready for a very bright future, which is an incredible achievement.

[Source: World Triathlon] World Triathlon and Super League Triathlon have announced a partnership to grow a global esports series that will crown the official triathlon esport World Champions. The partnership will see the formation of the Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift, a series of events giving opportunities to ranked athletes and national federations to participate and pursue the official World Championship title.

The partnership between World Triathlon and Super League Triathlon is the next step in growing the innovative concept of esports into a new and officially recognised discipline for triathlon. Fully in line with the International Olympic Committee’s aspirations to develop esports with its Olympic Virtual Series, it also taps into the strong growth of virtual participation that emerged during the pandemic.

The Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift, developed by Super League, is a unique format that marries real life and virtual racing and realises triathlon’s potential as an esport. Off the back of winning the prestigious Sports Industry Awards title for Cutting Edge Events and the Sports Business Award for Most Innovative Business Response to COVID 19, the Arena Games Triathlon will see both organisations working together to grow a global series that crowns an official World Champion.

Investing in cutting edge technologies, audiovisual content and incredible race scenarios that will generate wide engagement and awareness, World Triathlon and Super League will together help take the Arena Games Triathlon to the next level for the benefit of fans, athletes, national federations and all stakeholders.

The Arena Games Triathlon series builds on the existing MOU between Super League and World Triathlon and will continue to celebrate gender equality, clean sport and fair competition, providing new race opportunities to athletes with the aim of taking the format to the very pinnacle of the sport.

Marisol Casado, World Triathlon President and IOC member, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this partnership. Both organisations have been working hard and investing significant resources to evolve our sport, growing audiences, and giving the athletes the best stages on which to perform at their best. So it is only natural for both World Triathlon and Super League to invest and work together. I am absolutely convinced that the Arena Games Triathlon will be a fantastic event for athletes, broadcasters, sponsors and fans alike.”

Super League Triathlon CEO, Michael D’hulst, said: “This is a very exciting day for the sport. By partnering together, Super League Triathlon and World Triathlon are taking the next step in what has already been a very steep growth curve for the Arena Games. With this partnership, the sky's the limit. This could well be the next Olympic triathlon discipline.”

“The Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift has already proved to be an award winning disruptor, recognised by athletes and the wider sports community, and with a growing appetite at the very top levels of sport to bring esport to a much wider audience, this is perfectly timed for the benefit of everyone in triathlon and to help deliver an even more exciting future.”

Super League Triathlon co-founder and Chairman, Leonid Boguslavsky, added: “When I was a kid I had a dream to create a new sport discipline. This is why I am very proud that we have created the Arena Games Triathlon format using innovative tech from Zwift. It will inspire many athletes as well as organisers to roll out this format to many countries and cities since it does not depend on weather or venue restrictions, and triathlon as a sport will grow much faster both for athletes and media.”

World Triathlon and Super League will collaborate on all aspects of Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift, including scheduling, participating athletes, involvement of national federations, promotion, broadcasters, host venues and amplifying the reach of the events. The first series will be announced shortly, with the first official World Champions set to be crowned in 2022.

To find out more, listen to Super League Triathlon CEO Michael Dhulst and World Triathlon's Kris Gemmel's "Case Study Presentation: Working in partnership to create an esport world series for triathlon" at Host City 2021 - register here now: https://www.hostcity.com/events/host-city-2021/register

Host City: IOC president Thomas Bach recently praised your leadership of the International Triathlon Union (ITU), particularly in relation to good governance. How would you describe your leadership priorities in this area?

Marisol Casado: Any self-respecting organization should be judged by its governance policies, its commitment to operational transparency and the way that it is run and operates, both in the long and short-term.

My priorities are to ensure that the entire triathlon family adheres to that commitment and that ITU as an organization serves our athletes and National Federations fairly, openly and justly, so that we can rightfully expect the same consideration from them. It is our duty as a world governing body to set the example.

Thomas Bach was absolutely correct when he said at our recent Congress that you can be 99 per cent solid in how you are run, but if that 1 per cent lets you down, then that is what you will be remembered by. We strive for good governance across the board and have found that as a positive habit and a priority to share and to follow with our members, it is contagious.

Host City: How do you see recent and future progress in the prominence of women in sport and sports administration?

Marisol Casado: This is an ongoing battle, but one that continues to provide new examples of thriving individuals to show we are on the right track and have every reason to be optimistic about the future.

If you look back just 20 years you can see how much progress has been made towards gender equity, even though there is of course still much work to be done. But I am proud to say that our sport can certainly be held up as an example of this effort, where men and women share equal prize money, prominence and every drop of the spotlight.

The fact that Tokyo 2020 will bring us to the brink of gender equality both in terms of the overall athletes and officials’ ratios is testament to the effectiveness of the IOC Agenda 2020.

Host City: As a member of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris 2024, what are your expectations of these Games?

Marisol Casado: Paris is one of the world’s great cities and will provide the kind of Olympic and Paralympic venues that have an innate wow factor and that, coupled with an expert LOC looking to innovate and engage more than ever, will see it undoubtedly deliver a truly great Games. During our Coordination Commission visit in June we saw first-hand the commitment to a sustainable Games that will bring the people together both for mass-participation events and the legacy projects that will benefit France and the French public for years to come.

Host City: How is the ITU leading the way and innovating to ensure the continued rise in popularity of triathlon – both for participants and fans?

Marisol Casado: ITU seeks out and works with incredible local organising committees (LOCs) all around the world to stage events that are not only able to bring the very best out of the elite athletes but that, in many cases, are also opened up to the public to take part in, through Age-Group races and family events.

This mass participation aspect has always been an integral part of this sport; that it demands a high level of endurance and determination, but that it also manages to not be overly intimidating to those coming new to it.

The fact that we are a relatively young sport also helps and we reflect that as a dynamic, forward-thinking organization working effectively with incredible partners to promote and govern a growing, aspirational sport.

It is also filled with amazing role models. From the World Series to World Cups and beyond, their incredible achievements and the manner of their performances have always brought them closer to the fans and been a source of encouragement to newcomers. That means our development of the TriathlonLIVE streaming platform and huge social media presence can be backed up by not just their big-race performances but honest, revealing interviews and features that really convey their personalities.

We all do what we do for the love of triathlon, so the hard work never feels too much like hard work. I think that is important.

Host City: We are delighted you will be speaking at Host City 2019, with the conference theme “Innovate; Reformulate; Co-create”. What are your expectations of this important gathering?

Marisol Casado: Thank you, I’m very happy to be able to attend and honoured to have been asked to speak at the event. ITU is privileged to have worked with some incredible host cities over the past thirty years as triathlon’s world governing body, delivering iconic race venues all around the world.

Now, with our TriathlonLIVE platform showing more races than ever to ever-growing audiences in tandem with ITU social media channels, those host cities are also able to reach vast new horizons, so I think it is important that these kinds of opportunities are made explicit.

The benefits for cities are rich and varied, from engaging the population in healthy pursuits and the positive association and inspiration of hosting world-class sports, to boosts for tourism, infrastructure and experience. We have seen time and time again that working closely with cities brings enormous mutual benefits and that is the message that I hope will be underpinning the conference.

Marisol Casado is speaking at Host City 2019, the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events, taking place in Glasgow on 26-27 November

At the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Congress in Lausanne, Switzerland on 29^th August, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach showed his admiration for the modern, values-based direction of ITU under the leadership of Marisol Casado.

“ITU is maybe the International Federation that has most embraced the Olympic Agenda 2020,” said Thomas Bach in his address to the Congress.

“The IOC is proud of the close cooperation it has with the ITU in respect of good governance as well as gender equality, which is in the interests of every organisation. So, I thank Marisol Casado for all she is doing with ITU.”

The ITU President thanked Bach for his commitment and guidance, and for his admiration for the sport of triathlon and its athletes.

“The athletes are at the heart of every decision we make as an organisation and their commitment to the sport is incredible, so I am very proud of the support Thomas Bach has shown to ITU,” she said.

The 2019 ITU Congress brought together 73 member Federations and other stakeholders including the IOC.

Julie Duffus, Sustainability Manager at the IOC gave a presentation on sustainability in sport, while IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell also followed Thomas Bach onto the stage to reflect on the success of the Tokyo Test Event and look ahead to next year’s Olympic Games.

Other activities at the Congress included the announcement of the new World Cup and Paratriathlon calendars for 2020, in-depth reports from the 2019 Tokyo Test Events, a new mentorship programme and the approval of American Samoa as the 172nd member of the International Triathlon Union.

Brook Sport Consulting – led by Norman Brook, who has worked with Olympic coaches and received an MBE for his services to social development through sport – was chosen at the Congress to deliver the ITU mentorship programme across all areas of the sport, from coaches to Technical Officials, including a specific focus on women in the sport.

The organising committee of the Edmonton 2020 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final also gave a preview of their plans for next year, before the ITU Grand Final took place in Lausanne on 30 August - 1 September 2019.

Marisol Casado is speaking at Host City 2019, the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events, on 26-27 November in Glasgow.