The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has signed development grant contracts with the five Continental Confederations for 2020. The international governing body notes that this brings about a ‘comprehensive and extensive plan that will be implemented throughout the world to support the athletes and coaches development, as well as to increase the participation of women in the sport on all levels, from grassroots to elite participation.’
“Investing in development is investing in the growth of our sport, and is also investing in the future,” said ITU President and IOC member, Marisol Casado.
She continued, “For ITU to have a fruitful and productive relationship with all the Continental Confederations is paramount for us, and I think these five contracts signed with the Continental Presidents show once again the commitment we all have with the development projects, and helping our national federations, athletes, coaches, organisers and technical officials to continue learning.”
Asian Triathlon Confederation
The goal of the contract signed with the Asian Triathlon Confederation for 2020 is not only to support athletes, coaches and events in the region, but also to increase female participation at all levels of the sport.
“We want to work together with ITU to provide a sustainable structure for accessing resources and programmes, so that our triathlon family can participate as much as possible in all development initiatives,” said ASTC President, Justin Park.
ASTC will use the funds for some talent identification camps in Malaysia, Singapore, Mongoloa, Uzbekistan and India, as well as providing support for a Paratriathlon Development camp in Japan.
African Triathlon Union
“With the goal of providing for the new and emerging national federations in Africa with resources for development, the contract signed with the African Triathlon Union aims also to support athletes and coaches development towards the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games, the first major Games to be hosted in the African continent,” said ATU President, Ahmed Nasser.
In 2020 ATU will support an Activator Community Seminar in Congo, with the aim of the participants organising an event in the country that same year. Funds will be provided also to support Technical Official seminars in the Seychelle Islands, Zambia and Algeria.
European Triathlon Union
“The goal of the European Triathlon Union, for 2020, is to increase membership across Europe in all triathlon formats and distances, as well as assist European national federations to develop their own skills to attain competitive excellence,” said ETU President, Renato Bertrandi.
Development funds from ITU will help support the ETU Development Team, as well as some training camps for development athletes, to be hosted in Sierra Nevada and in Alanya, Turkey. ETU will also allocate resources to the national federations of Armenia, Belarus, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lietchestein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey to help them organise talent identification and development camps, as well as education for coaches and organisers.
Oceania Triathlon Union
The Oceania Triathlon Union will use the development funds in 2020 to provide support to the ITU Mentorship programme, identifying mentors and helping them attend courses, as well as some resources for educational programmes for coaches, Technical Officials and athletes across the continent.
“We want to provide the personal, resources and budget allocations to support our strategic development goals, as well as help Oceania’s national federations to create and develop their own skills to attain competitive excellence,” explained OTU President, Peter Hedge.
PanAmerican Triathlon Confederation
“The Pan American Triathlon Confederation (PATCO) is planning multiple development activities across the whole continent, with some funds to be provided for Technical Official and coaches courses in South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean region during the season,” said PATCO President, Liber Garcia.
The Development grant will be used also for supporting some young talent identification camps and Youth Continental development camps in Peru, El Salvador or Trinidad & Tobago. PATCO will provide funding for American U23 athletes and will organise a camp for American triathletes qualified to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
