World Triathlon
| File:International Triathlon Union logo.svg | |
| Sport | Triathlon |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | ITU |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Location | Lausanne, Switzerland |
| President | Marisol Casado |
| CEO | Antonio Arimany |
| Official website | |
| www | |
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) is the international governing body for the multi-sport disciplines of triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and other nonstandard variations.[1] ITU, which is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, sanctions the ITU World Triathlon Series and the ITU Triathlon World Cup.
Overview
The ITU was formed in 1989, and organizes official world championship series races for the sport of triathlon. It was formed in part to give the growing sport of triathlon an official organizing body and in part to advocate for the entry of triathlon into the Olympic games.
The primary ITU race series is the short-course or standard distance World Triathlon Series and Triathlon World Cup. The distances for the ITU world cup races are 1500 m swim, 40 km bike, and 10 km run. They were chosen from existing swim, bike, and run distances already in the Olympic games. This distance of triathlon has become one of the primary standards in the world of triathlon.
More recently, the ITU created a long distance race circuit with official world championships. Long Distance Triathlon races are very similar in length to Ironman Triathlon races owned and organized by the World Triathlon Corporation.
The ITU also sanctions and organizes official Aquathlon (swim-run), Duathlon (run-bike-run) and Winter triathlon championships.
International structure
The ITU is structured into 5 continental regions, through which the national federations (the governing body of triathlon in each country) is affiliated to the ITU. Each of the continental regions offers a Continental Championship and Continental Cup Series.
- Africa: African Triathlon Union (ATU) – 10 national federations[2]
- Americas: Pan American Triathlon Confederation (PATCO) – 36 national federations[3]
- Asia: Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) – 22 national federations[4]
- Europe: European Triathlon Union (ETU) – 43 national federations[5]
- Oceania: Oceania Triathlon Union (OTU) – 8 national federations[6]
Championships
The world championship events organised by the ITU include:
- ITU World Triathlon Series
- ITU Team Triathlon World Championships
- ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships
- ITU Triathlon World Cup Series
- ITU Aquathlon World Championships
- ITU Duathlon World Championships
- ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships
- ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships
References
- ^ "Federation Affiliation Criteria". International Triathlon Union. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
- ^ "Official Site of African Triathlon Union". International Triathlon Union. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ^ "Official Site of Pan American Triathlon Confederation". International Triathlon Union. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ^ "Official Site of Asian Triathlon Confederation". International Triathlon Union. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ^ "Official Site of European Triathlon Union". International Triathlon Union. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
- ^ "Official Site of Oceania Triathlon Union". International Triathlon Union. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
