ITU Releases World Championship Series Schedule

VANCOUVER, Canada — The iconic capitals of Sydney, Seoul and Budapest have been added to the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series calendar for 2010, joining existing world class events in Madrid, London, Kitzbühel and Hamburg.

"The series will be staged in three Olympic cities as well as some of the most important centres of the world," said Marisol Casado, the president of ITU. "This is a major step forward for our sport."

"Together with our strategic partners SPORTFIVE and UPSOLUT, we are incredibly excited by the success of the new series after its launch in 2009 and are thrilled to be able to present a top quality calendar of showcase events for 2010," said Paul Coleman, the managing director of the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championships Series.

The season will kick off in style on April 11 with the opening race on the steps of the renowned Sydney Opera House, mirroring the first Olympic Games triathlon in 2000.

"There is no better way to start the 2010 ITU World Championship than on the very course where the Olympic Triathlon was born," said Nathan Rees, the premier of New South Wales. "This major international event provides another opportunity to showcase Sydney – Australia's only global city – to the world."

Current women's world champion Emma Moffat of Australia will have an excellent opportunity to open the defense of her title on home soil.

Following Sydney, the series moves north to an exciting new venue in central Seoul, South Korea, in early May. The series then heads to Europe in June, stopping in Madrid, Spain. July will see races in the spectacular venues of Hamburg, Germany and London, UK before the famous alpine ski resort of Kitzbühel, Austria hosts the penultimate event in August.

A successful debut for the London event staged on the Olympic venue in Hyde Park in 2009 gave organizers and athletes a first taste of what can be expected at the Olympic Games in 2012.

"This year's Triathlon World Championships, set against the magnificent backdrop that only London can offer, were a fabulous success," said London Mayor Boris Johnson. "It is a challenging sport that makes for a thrilling event – both for the world-class athletes taking part and the spectators cheering them on. As we build up to the 2012 Games, London looks forward to welcoming this exciting event again in 2010 and in 2011." 

The event is sure to deliver another exciting race as the home spectators will be able to support the newly crowned men's world champion Alistair Brownlee.
 
The Hungarian capital of Budapest will host the 2010 Grand Final of the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championships Series where the world champions will be crowned. The event will be held on the weekend of Sept. 11 with the course encompassing the Danube and much of the city centre. The Under 23 and Junior World Championships will also take place in Budapest and the city will provide the stage for thousands of international triathletes to compete in the Age Group and Paratriathlon ITU Triathlon World Championships.

An eighth event is also under review and if added to the series, the event likely will take place in May.

The 2010 ITU Triathlon World Cup calendar will be released at the beginning of November.

2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series Calendar
April 11 – Sydney, Australia
May 8-9 – Seoul, South Korea
June 5-6 – Madrid, Spain
July 17-18 – Hamburg, Germany
July 24-25 – London, United Kingdom
August 14-15 – Kitzbühel, Austria
September 11-12 – Budapest, Hungary (Grand Final)

For more information, visit the World Championship Series website