The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has confirmed the Continental Championships for the 2012 season:
- January 13-15: La Paz PATCO Triathlon Pan American Championships (Argentina)
- March 10: Devonport OTU Triathlon Oceania Championships (Australia)
- March 31: Mauritius ATU Triathlon African Championships (Mauritius)
- April 7-8: Tateyama ASTC Triathlon Asian Championships (Japan)
- April 20-22: Eilat ETU Triathlon European Championships (Israel)
Winners from the 2012 Continental Championships will earn their National Federations automatic Olympic spots, with the exception of the PATCO Pan American Championships where the Olympic spots were determined at last month’s Pan American Games.
PATCO – 13-15 January 2012
La Paz has a long triathlon history, having first hosted a Pan American Continental Cup in 2003 and every year since then. It has also hosted the PATCO Sprint Triathlon South American Championships in 2008 and the South American Championships in 2009. The city is in Argentina’s northwest province of Ente Rios. Prize money is US$10,000 and both elite races will be on Sunday 15 January.
OTU – 10 March 2012
After staging the successful Oceania Sprint Championships earlier this year, the Tasmanian coastal city of Devonport will host Oceania’s Olympic qualifier in 2012. The first Devonport triathlon was held in 1985. Prize money is AU$10,000 and all elite, U23 and junior races will be on Saturday 10 March.
ATU – 31 March 2012
The African Championships are heading back to Mauritius after a successful event in 2007 in Belle Marre. The country has also hosted Continental Cups for six years in addition to the Championships in 2007. All junior, U23 and elite races will take place on Saturday 31 March.
ASTC – 7-8 April 2012
Japan will host the Asian Championships for the first since 2002 when Tateyama welcomes Asia’s best in April 2012. Located at the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula in Chiba, Tateyama will also mark the 20th ASTC Asian Championships. All junior, U23 and elite races will go on Saturday 7 April.
ETU – 20-22 April 2012
The European Championships will travel to Eilat, Israel for the final Continental Championship of 2012. Previously Eilat has hosted a World Cup in 2007, a number of European Cups and recently the Under 23 European Championships. The prize money will be €60,000. The elite and junior women’s races will be on Friday 20 April, while the elite and junior men will go on Saturday 21 April. The Team relays will be on Sunday 22 April.
