LONDON 2012: ITU happy with triathlon course changes

By Sportsbeat staff

INTERNATIONAL Triathlon Union officials have declared themselves happy with proposed chances to the triathlon course ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.

SIGHT-SEEING: London 2012 triathlon must take in the city's iconic landmarks, says ITU chief (Getty Images)  

ITU president and International Olympic Committee member Marisol Casado held meetings with Locog's director of sport Debbie Jevans during this weekend's ITU World Championship Series event in the capital.

Both races took place within the boundaries of Hyde Park but next year's event will test the proposed 2012 course, which will take in more of the capital's sights, including Buckingham Palace and The Mall.

Britain's reigning world champion, Alistair Brownlee, has been critical that the Olympic course does not represent a stiff enough test but Casado denies the charge.

"Hyde Park offers the ideal venue to host an event of the magnitude of the Olympic triathlon," he said. 

"The course is very spectator friendly and will no doubt make the event one of the most memorable events of the 2012 Games.

"We're very excited to return to London in 2011 to test the same course set for the Olympic Games, which runs around Hyde Park."

It is hoped more than 250,000 will line the route for the London 2012 triathlon, similar numbers to the prologue of the 2008 Tour de France.

"Hyde Park is an iconic venue in central London and this will without doubt be one of London's most popular venues putting on a world class Olympic event," said Jevans. 

"We look forward to working on all the details of the event with the ITU over the next two years."