The International Triathlon Union (ITU) is pleased to announce it 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 from 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 said. “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.
| Designated Event | Distance | World Cup Date | Application Deadline |
| 2017 Chengdu ITU Triathlon World Cup | Super Sprint | 6-7 May 2017 | 13th March 2017 |
| 2017 Madrid ITU Triathlon World Cup | Standard | 27-28 May 2017 | 3rd April 2017 |
| 2017 Tiszaujvaros ITU Triathlon World Cup | Super Sprint | 22-23 July 2017 | 5th June 2017 |
| 2017 Salinas ITU Triathlon World Cup* | Standard | 28-29 October 2017 | 18th September 2017 |
| 2017 Tongyeong ITU Triathlon World Cup** | Sprint | 28-29 October 2017 | 18th September 2017 |
| 2017 Buenos Aires ITU Triathlon World Cup* | Sprint | 4-5 November 2017 | 18th September 2017 |
| 2017 Miyazaki ITU Triathlon World Cup** | Standard | 4-5 November 2017 | 18th September 2017 |
For more information on Team ITU, click here.
