Following the International Paralympic Committee’s request for ITU to collect further data-based information and details on paratriathlon sport classes, the IPC has this week decided on the three remaining medal events that will debut at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games.
The final men’s medal event will be filled by the PT2 sport class, while PT2 and PT5 will complete the medal events for the women.
The events join the men’s PT1 and men’s and women’s PT4 sport classes announced in July 2014. This does mean that not all paratriathlon classes will be contested in Rio. Although, according to a release from ITU (the International Triathlon Union), the ‘overall programme represents an even split of medal events across genders.’
Following July’s announcement, ITU and IPC have been working together to analyse the remaining sport classes ahead of the difficult decision on the final three medal events for paratriathlon’s debut in Rio.
While paratriathlon’s debut at the Rio De Janeiro Paralympic Games is an exciting cornerstone moment for the sport, ITU hopes to include all five men’s and women’s sport classes on future Paralympic programmes.
“We will remain committed to both campaigning for the inclusion of all remaining sport classes in Tokyo 2020, as well as to their continued development at ITU paratriathlon events,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado.
She continued, “ITU will continue to offer top quality competitive races in all of its sport classes, including World Championships every year, as well as development and classification opportunities. We are confident that if we all – paratriathletes, NFs, LOCs and ITU – continue developing during the next years, that all categories will be present at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.”
