World Triathlon’s third Virtual Open Hours session of 2026, held on 17 June, brought together National Federation representatives for updates on projects, initiatives and developments currently shaping the sport.
President Antonio F. Arimany opened the session with a World Triathlon update. He welcomed the following newly elected NF presidents:
- Mr Reuben Tucker - President of Triathlon New Zealand
- Ms Leilani Faletoese - President of Samoa TRI
- Ms Joycelene Leah Nyambura(re-elected) - President of Triathlon Kenya
- Mr Lovi Jo - President of Chinese Taipei Triathlon Federation
- Mr Julio Ramirez - President of Ecuador Triathlon Federation
Mr Arimany also provided the following World Triathlon updates -
Olympic Updates
World Triathlon is currently participating in the International Olympic Committee’s Fit for Future review process. As part of this initiative, all Summer Olympic sports are required to undertake an assessment of their relevance, governance, structure, and future development within the Olympic Movement. In further Olympic news, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. As part of this milestone, World Triathlon was recognised for its ongoing commitment to good governance, having achieved a place in the highest tier of ASOIF’s governance rankings. This recognition reflects World Triathlon’s continued focus on transparency, accountability, and best-practice governance. Looking towards LA2028, President Arimany highlighted that the qualification period for the Los Angeles Olympic Games had officially commenced on 18 May, marking the beginning of the road to LA for athletes and National Federations worldwide. World Triathlon representatives also visited the proposed Olympic triathlon venue, which is expected to provide one of the most iconic settings of the Games.
Following Sweden’s withdrawal of its allocated quota place for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the position was reallocated through the roll-down process and accepted by Latvia, which will now be represented at the Games.
Executive Board Update
The Executive Board held its most recent in-person meeting in May. A virtual meeting is scheduled in the coming weeks, with the next face-to-face meeting planned for Rio de Janeiro in July. In Continental Confederation updates, Africa Triathlon held its Annual General Assembly and Asia Triathlon held its Congress in Osaka. Both meetings highlighted ongoing governance, planning, and development activities across the regions.
Policy Updates
World Triathlon’s Sustainability Strategy 2026–2030 has now been published. National Federations are encouraged to review the strategy and consider adopting its principles and policies within their own organisations, supporting the sport’s collective commitment to environmental and social sustainability. A new safeguarding policy under the TRICARE initiative will be released shortly. Built around the values of Commitment, Attentive, Respectful and Everyone (CARE), the policy strengthens World Triathlon’s commitment to creating safe and inclusive environments across all levels of the sport. The initiative will be supported by enhanced education resources and an updated reporting framework to ensure concerns can be raised and addressed effectively.
Events and Hosting Opportunities
Looking ahead, the 2027 Multisport World Championships will take place in Edmonton from 16–25 July, while the 2027 World Triathlon Championship Finals are scheduled for Hamburg from 8–12 September. Bidding opportunities remain open for the 2027 Winter Triathlon World Championships and the 2028 Powerman Duathlon World Championships. National Federations interested in hosting these events are encouraged to contact the relevant World Triathlon Sport Department for further information.
World Triathlon & T100 Update
Secretary General Jon Wyatt provided an update on the latest developments in the partnership between World Triathlon and the T100 brand (who have also purchased the Challenge Series brand), highlighting a shared commitment to strengthening the long-term viability and global growth of the sport.
This alignment has largely come out of the strategic review conducted by Deloitte, which highlighted the importance of greater unification across triathlon’s existing series, with a more cohesive global narrative, for future development. From 2027, the T100 brand will continue, and the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) will evolve into the T50 World Championship Series. This alignment is intended to create a clearer and more streamlined commercial structure across elite racing, supporting improved broadcast quality, greater accessibility, and increased global visibility.
A key focus of the model is the continued staging of events in iconic host cities and venues, supported by stronger storytelling that follows athletes and season-long narratives, helping to deepen engagement and grow the sport’s global audience. To further support participation and growth, World Triathlon top-tier events will also include Age Group racing, with the aim of delivering a consistent multisport weekend experience that strengthens both elite performance pathways and mass participation opportunities.
Female Coaching
The World Triathlon Development Team presented two interconnected initiatives: the Female Coaches in Triathlon Study and a series of targeted programmes being developed around the Pontevedra 2026 World Championships.
The study examines the barriers and enablers for women entering and progressing in coaching roles and is intended to inform both policy and practice across National Federations. Pontevedra 2026 will serve as a platform to activate some of these findings, with specific coaching initiatives planned to provide visibility, mentorship, and practical opportunities for female coaches at all levels.
The Open Hours Presentation can be found here.
Recording links are below -