World Triathlon continued to develop its Technical Official (TO) network in September, holding Level 1 seminars in Africa, the Americas, and Europe, alongside an Observers’ Programme in Pontevedra at the 2026 World Triathlon Championship Finals. The programs provided NF's with opportunities to develop new TO's while strengthening the knowledge and experience required to support triathlon competition.
Level 1 education in Africa
In Maputo, Mozambique, the 2026 Maputo World Triathlon Technical Officials Level 1 Seminar brought together 21 candidates, with women representing 33 per cent of participants. The seminar was also attended by the President of the Mozambique Sports Committee as a special guest, providing an opportunity to connect Technical Officials education with the wider sporting environment in Mozambique. The course took place just before the 2025 World Triathlon Development Regional Cup Maputo, making sure that an adequate number of trained technical officials are ready to deliver a safe and fair competition.
“It is great to see that Mozambique NF is making a huge effort to develop in all areas” - Rick Fulton (ZIM), Africa Triathlon Continental Coordinator
The 2026 Monastir World Triathlon Technical Officials Level 1 Seminar welcomed a further 25 participants in Tunisia, with female participation at 36 per cent. Mouna Ben Mhamed, a member of the Tunisia National Federation Executive Board, attended as a special guest.
“The training was highly informative; our instructor, Mr Mahdi Mnif, provided excellent guidance. The two-day course was well-organised, and the program covered a lot of rules across the various triathlon disciplines.” - Wissem Amiche (TUN), TO
“The knowledge and experience gained during the seminar will further strengthen their decision-making skills and enable them to ensure that competitions are delivered consistently, safely, and fairly.” - Mahdi Mnif (TUN), TRI Facilitator
The two seminars supported the continued development of Technical Officials in Africa, introducing participants to World Triathlon's officiating framework and the requirements of the Level 1 pathway.
Strong participation in Ilhéus
In Ilhéus, Brazil, 25 participants took part in the 2026 World Triathlon Technical Officials Level 1 Seminar, with women accounting for 52 per cent of the group.
The seminar supported the development of Technical Officials within the Brazilian triathlon community, while the strong female participation contributed to the continued expansion of opportunities for women within technical roles in the sport.
“At the end of the seminar, it was fun to have some prizes raffled off to the TOs” - Ricardo Neves (BRA), TRI Facilitator
Developing officials across Europe
The 2026 Bled World Triathlon Technical Officials Level 1 Seminar brought together seven participants from three National Federations – Poland, Hungary and Slovenia.
Women represented 42 per cent of participants, with the multi-NF format providing an opportunity for officials from neighbouring National Federations to undertake education together and share experiences from their respective triathlon environments.
“Facilitating my first international seminar alongside Laura Patti in Bled was an incredible experience and an honour. There was a wonderful sense of continuity for me, as I earned my own Level 1 certification back in 2011 in Laura’s hometown of Cremona. Our group gathered technical officials from three nations with varied experience levels, sparking excellent discussions. Following the classroom sessions, seeing them deliver solid work on the field of play at the Junior European Cup amidst Slovenia’s breathtaking scenery was the perfect finish. Thank you, World Triathlon for the opportunity and trust." - Petr Muzicek (CZE), TRI Facilitator
In Pontevedra, Spain, the 2026 World Triathlon Observers’ Programme provided a further opportunity for officials to develop their understanding through observation and practical exposure within the 2026 World Triathlon Final Championships competition environment.
The programme allows participants to observe competition operations and better understand how technical procedures and organisational requirements are applied in practice in the highest-level race environment.
Building the Technical Officials pathway
The September activities demonstrate the breadth of World Triathlon's approach to Technical Officials education, combining Level 1 education for developing officials with practical learning opportunities through the Observers’ Programme. With 78 participants across four Level 1 seminars, the programme continued to expand opportunities for National Federations to develop their own Technical Officials, while the participation of women remained a consistent feature across all four seminars.
Together, the activities contribute to building the knowledge, experience and capacity of Technical Officials required to support triathlon events at national, regional and international level.
