YOG 2010: ITU hopeful team triathlon might win full Olympic recognition

By Tom Reynolds, Sportsbeat, in Singapore

 INTERNATIONAL Triathlon Union officials believe the success of the team relay at the Youth Olympic Games could help boost its chances of inclusion at Rio 2016.

ALL CHANGE: Elinor Thorogood hands on the British team-mate Andrew Hood in the team triathlon event at the Youth Olympic Games. As part of Europe 4 they finished seventh. Europe 1 won the first ever gold medal (Singapore Press Holdings/Delly Carr/ITU)

Teams were comprised of two women and two men from each continent, according to the athletes' finishing positions in the individual events held on last Sunday and Monday. 

Each of the four participants in the relay completed a super-sprint triathlon - 250-metre swim, 7km bike, 1.7km run - before tagging a team member to begin the next leg.

ITU officials believe the event - for mixed national teams - could be added to Rio's schedule without the need for an additional athlete quota, one of the International Olympic Committee's key concerns when it comes to altering the sports timetable.

Triathlon has proved to be one of the most successful Olympic sports since its introduction ten years ago in Sydney and the ITU have taken heart from the campaign the International Tennis Federation successfully mounted to include mixed doubles at London 2012.

"We believe Team Triathlon has tremendous appeal to youth, and can help expose a new generation to this wonderful sport," said ITU president and IOC member Marisol Casado. 

"With a number of lead changes, plenty of unpredictable dramas and the display of team pride, today, we proved it.  ITU is very passionate about having the discipline added in the Olympic programme to inspire youth to take up this wonderful sport."

Last week IOC president Jacques Rogge - who watched the race first-hand - also said he hoped to use the Youth Olympics as a testing ground for adaptions to the Olympic programme, which would appeal more to a youth television audience.

Rio 2016 chairman Carlos Nuzman also echoed those thoughts yesterday.

"There are new sport events and new format of sports events that is something that could be adapted to traditional Games," he said.

More related reading

• LONDON 2012: Team player Thorrington ready to put it on the line for Jenkins

• CAS uphold six month misconduct ban for British triathlete Wiltshire

• Jenkins happy to lurk in the shadows in hunt for 2012 gold

• Joyce secures another British triathlon world title in ITU long distance event

• Jenkins seals World Triathlon crown

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