The triathlon family is richer now with two more countries playing very important roles in 2006 by hosting an ITU Triathlon World Cup in each of their countries.
The states of Qatar and Jordan will be the first to welcome our elite athletes when the ITU World Cup Series kicks-off in Doha, Qatar on Friday, 3 March and moves on to Aqaba, Jordan for the ITU World Cup on Friday, 10 March.
Doha is the host city of the December 2006 Asian Games. As Triathlon is on the programme of the Games, it is a great opportunity for Doha to showcase the beautiful areas of the city through the charismatic and dynamic sport of Triathlon.
The Doha ITU Triathlon World Cup will also be the Test Event for the Asian Games and will be co-organised by the Qatar National Olympic Committee, the Doha 2006 Asian Games Organising Committee and the Qatar Cycling Federation (ITU’s affiliated National Federation in Qatar).
As the first step in preparing for the event a Technical Officials’ seminar was held during the last visit of the ITU Technical Delegate, Gergely Markus of Hungary (who was the Competition Manager for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games Triathlon.) This seminar was attended by several local officials full of enthusiasm for triathlon. An Event Organisers and Technical Officials seminar will be organized in conjunction with the World Cup for the education of the National Technical Officials and Event Organisers of the region.
The Doha ITU Triathlaon World Cup will be held on the famous Al Corniche, passing the Emir’s Palace and the Old Sook.
ITU is working very closely with the Federation and its President, His Eminence Sheik Khalid Al-Thani in order to develop the sport in Qatar.
ITU will stage a seminar for the New ITU Affiliated federations in Qatar, making sure that triathlon will be developed throughout the Middle East in time for the Asian Games, which is the second largest multi-sport Games after the Olympic Games.
A week after Doha, athletes, technical officials and coaches will take a short two hour flight to Jordan for the Aqaba ITU Triathlon World Cup.
Triathlon in Jordan is fully supported by His Royal Highness Prince Feisal Hussein who is also the President of the Jordanian National Olympic Committee and a good friend of ITU.
The organising committee for the Aqaba ITU Triathlon World Cup includes representatives from the Jordanian Olympic Committee, the Jordanian Triathlon Federation, plus other sports federations and Aqaba’s Tourist Development Organization. They are all working cooperatively to ensure that athletes and officials will receive Jordan’s famous hospitality.
The Aqaba ITU Triathlon World Cup will take place on a spectatular course in the heart of Aqaba, bringing together the best images from this historic city and at the same time a well known resort.
The transition area and finish area will be located on the Arab Revolt Plaza in front of the Castle of Lawrence of Arabia.
The participants will also have an opportunity to visit the famous ancient city of Petra and the Dead Sea.
Triathlon is making its first international debut in Jordan as well and ITU will help the growth of the sport in this country by organizing a Coaches and Athletes’ Development Seminar in Aqaba parallel to the event.
Jordan and Qatar are two of the most modern of all the Arab States with a peaceful and tranquil culture, welcoming tourists from all parts of the world.
The ITU Executive Board considers these two events to be extremely important as the World Cup Rankings will be the primary means of qualifying for the Beijing Olympic Games, as well as the Asian Games.
The ITU Executive Board meeting will be convened in Doha on Saturday, 4 March.