To: ITU Affiliated National Federations
From: Japan Triathlon Union (JTU)
Date: Monday 1st October 2012
Dear Friends in Triathlon Family,
We, the Japan Triathlon Union, would like to inform you that the resolution attached below was unanimously approved by the Executive Board meeting held on 29th September in the city of Yokohama.
JTU Resolution in Support of ITU
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) explicitly stipulated in its Charter at the time of its foundation in 1989 in Avignon, France, that it would aim to have our sport of triathlon included in the official Olympic program. It was still in those days when the actual feasibility was unclear and beyond our imagination.
A decade later at the IOC Session in 1994, the IOC adopted a resolution to have triathlon as an Olympic sport. Since then, triathlon has continued flourishing as known to the world; Its impressive debut in the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 was followed by the 2004 Athens, the 2008 Beijing, and the 2012 London Games, where the whole world witnessed enthusiasm raised by dozens thousands of spectators over heated races, are still fresh in our memories.
This movement is solidly proceeding into the future as triathlon will be first competed officially in the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. There will also be chances of a new discipline of Team Relay being included in the Olympics to be held prior to the Paralympics in the same year.
These successes are mainly attributed to the nature of this sport of triathlon being well-balanced and health-oriented. It also perfectly fits for the current global theme that we should organize sustainable and environmentally-friendly events.
Furthermore, triathlon attracts mass people as we offer multi-sport races such as Duathlon and Winter Triathlon. Each of the categories presents World Championships. This aspect of our sport also contributes to the fact that our events are held in more than 120 countries and regions across the world at present.
Development of a sport cannot be accomplished by one individual person--- Triathlon is not an exception. This sport has come this far by tireless efforts and contribution done by each of us in the triathlon family, who worked together in an integrated manner for our common dream of success of our sport.
In this regard, we, JTU, are very proud of ITU under the excellent leadership of Marisol Casado, President, and its top management with capable women who serve as a Vice President and Secretary General. Our international federation is renowned as a role model in the sporting society in the world as well as in the IOC. We should pride ourselves of being part of it and remember we have won this acclaim together.
JTU also highly appreciates and recognizes ITU as the world’s governing body for leading in forming a solid organization and the legitimate system against all odds, which will strongly support and help us advance further into the future.
JTU, a founding member of ITU, became into being as “JTU” in 1994 when triathlon organizations were unified in Japan. Starting in that year, we have organized World Cup events and various World Championships in accordance with the guidelines of ITU. Our institutional growth met a great reputation in Japan as an emergence of a new successful sport.
Having stated all these, upon the successful conclusion of the ITU Triathlon World Series, Yokohama, the Executive Board members of JTU are proud to express our unanimous support and sincere appreciation to President Marisol Casado who represents ITU Family. We have absolute confidence in her great self and look forward to her continued successful endeavors leading toward the Rio de Janeiro Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Please feel free to contact us if you require further information.
Sincerely yours,
Japan Triathlon Union (JTU)
Mitsuhide IWAKI, President
Takashi KOKUBU, First Vice President
Toshihiro MORISAKI, Vice President
Shin OTSUKA, Senior Managing Director
Masao NAKAYAMA, Secretary General
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E-mail: jtuoffice@jtu.or.jp
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