Having recently opened bidding for World Paratriathlon Events, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) has now announced that the 2016 ITU Paratriathlon World Championships have been awarded to Rotterdam in The Netherlands, to be held on 23-24 July 2016.
The stand-alone ITU Paratriathlon World Championships will take place at the same venue as the 2017 ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final. The 2016 event will award World Championship titles to athletes prior to the debut of paratri at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games.
“We are thrilled to see Rotterdam host the Paratriathlon World Championships next year,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “Paratriathlon will be at the height of attention next year as athletes prepare to participate in the Paralympics for the first time. It will be a great opportunity for the citizens of Rotterdam to see the future Paralympic stars in action before they take off to Rio.”
Rotterdam Vice Mayor Adriaan Visser, also Alderman for Sports, Culture and Finance, said “The athletes will find Rotterdam as a modern, sport loving and welcoming city. The year 2016 is an important year because of the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. On that account we will guarantee the best circumstances for all athletes and for the ITU to make this World Championships a great success.”
Rotterdam will mark the first time that the Paratriathlon World Championships are contested as a stand-alone event, as athletes prepare for their debut at the Paralympics just two months later making 2016 a cornerstone year for the sport. While select sport classes will compete in Rio, all five sport classes will be present at the World Championships in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam is The Netherlands’ second largest city and is well-known for its cargo port, being the largest in Europe, as well as its iconic landmarks such as the Erasmus Bridge and the Euromast.
Athletes will experience the buzz of this vibrant city to the fullest, both racing and staying in the city’s modern urban district. In recent years, the city has hosted a Tour de France Grand Depart as well as a yearly marathon, making the city a destination for endurance sports fans.
The final race program, including events for both elite and age group athletes, will be announced in due course.
