The Executive Board of ITU has met during three days in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) just ahead of the ITU World Championships Grand Final to debate and decide on several important issues.

“I am really satisfied of the intense work we have done, especially on defining the direction of our organization for the next four years,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “I feel really confident that with the work that we have been doing during last year, and the commitment from all the Board members, we will continue to push our organization even further. We do have more presence and impact now on the Olympics, with the Mixed Relays being part of the Olympic Program, now is time to focus on the goals for the next four years”.

One of the main topics of the Executive Board meeting was the Strategic Plan 2018-2021, that will be presented on Congress this Thursday, and that will guide the principles of the organization during the next four years. With a changing environment and to ensure the global leadership of ITU within the sports community, the Board worked to establish an action plan that will ensure the growth of triathlon worldwide and to ensure the standards of excellence of ITU.

After a warm remembrance of ITU’s former President, Les McDonald, who died only one week ago, the ITU Executive Board engaged in a lengthy discussion on some proposals to change the competition structure practices and ways to enhance them to ensure triathlon continues to offer a level playing field.

During the board meeting, it was presented the new competition structure for the upcoming years, and also the current situation of cities wishing to host WTS or World Cup events, as well as the proposed system for qualification athletes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, both as individuals and as teams that will participate on the Mixed Relay event.

The Board also congratulated one of their members, Dr. Debra Alexander, for her new role as elected member at large of the International Paralympic Committee Executive Board. She presented the Board the new plans to work on the classification system in order to fulfil the IPC requirements to get more sport classes in the Tokyo 2002 Paralympic Games.

The Board approved the 2018 budget to be presented for approval to Congress, and the competition’s calendar which will be announced also in Rotterdam at the Congress. Next meeting of the Board will be in December, along with the Science and Triathlon Conference in Edmonton (Canada).