The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has expanded its development programme for the 2017 triathlon season. Next year, athletes from developing and emerging National Federations will have the opportunity to apply for funded travel assistance and coaching support at seven ITU Triathlon World Cups, which is an increase of three races on 2016.
“We identified the need to increase opportunities for athletes to race at more World Cups, and therefore created joint projects on two continents where athletes will be able to take further advantage of the Team ITU resources,” said ITU Presient and IOC Member Marisol Casado.
In addition, for the first time, National Federations can nominate a coach to travel with Team ITU to learn from a world renown ITU Head Coach at each World Cup.
“Not only is it vital for developing athletes to learn from the world’s best triathlon coaches, we want to make sure we educate coaches so that they can carry this education back to their own regions to develop athletes,” Casado added. “In this manner we aren’t only developing one athlete for the next Olympic cycle, we are educating someone that can develop many athletes over a lifetime.”
ITU’s primary object with this development project is to provide support, resources and expertise to athletes from emerging and developing National Federations who have the potential to compete at the World Cup level, as well as to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Additionally, ITU aims to increase the number of coaches from these National Federations who can prepare and support athletes competing at a World Cup level.
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