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ITU
Update: 7th Edition, 2003
UPDATE
24
April 2003: Update of the Current ITU News
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this edition…..
1. News
from the ITU Committees and Commissions: |
4.
News from Europe: |
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NEWS * FROM * ITU * COMMITTEES |
| Transportation
of Dangerous Goods Kevin Penny, Triathlon Canada writes; Transport Canada has raised our concerns about transporting compressed air/CO2 cartridges and aerosol lubricants on airline flights. While they understand that triathletes and cyclists are in a unique situation they do not have a solution for us at this time. Consequently, please advise your members that traveling with compressed air/CO2 cartridges and/or aerosol lubricants on airline flights is strictly prohibited. To transport these items by air requires individuals to be trained in the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations and Transportation Procedures prior to offering these goods for transport as cargo. The current solution is to purchase compressed air/CO2 cartridges and aerosol lubricants at the race site. |
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 Valerie Gattis, ITU Women's Committee, has been the energy behind Project Tri-Spirit |
Project
Tri-Spirit on E-bay Valerie Gattis of the ITU Women's Committee writes: Project Tri-Spirit, a programme that gathers new, gently used, and re-useable training gear from those who no longer require it, and ensures it gets into the hands of multi-sport athletes from less-advantaged countries, has experienced unparalleled success and growth since its launch in November 2002. Quantities of clothing have already been donated to: Ecuador, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Mexico and India. Project Tri-Spirit's monetary contribution account has gone from a balance of $00.00 to over $1,000.00. This money is being used to help defray the staggering costs of shipping/ freight associated with this humanitarian effort. Your continuing contributions are very welcomed. http://www.tri-spirit.com Valerie Gattis (second from left) in Cancun with Project TriSpirit Clothes for athletes in Central America.Project Tri-Spirit invites you to visit our storefront on E-Bay, the World's Online Marketplace. Here we will have auctions offering personally signed items belonging to prestigious, elite athletes and well-known celebrities. Revenue received from our auctioned items will be deposited into the shipping/freight account mentioned above. Karen Smyers and Jackie Gallagher already have offered their "closets" for our cause. http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/tri-spirit/Project Tri-Spirit challenges any and all Elite athletes, age group athletes and charitable individuals to continue this project of hope and opportunity by donating what you can. For further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me at ValerieEll@aol.com. |
| ITU
Executive Board Appointment Mr. Xin Li, a member of the Chinese Olymic Committee and the Beijing 2004 Olympic Games Organising Committee has been appointed to the ITU Executive Board to fill the vacancy created by a resignation. His appointment will stay in place until the next Congress of ITU, where an election will be held to fill the vacancy. The date and place of the 2003 Congress will be confirmed as soon as we find a suitable venue. |
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UCI
Announcement on Helmets Following the fatal fall of Kazakh cyclist Andre Kivilev during the Paris-Nice race in March 2003, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has confirmed its wish to extend compulsory helmet wearing to professional riders.The statutory aspects of this initiative are currently being studied.Indeed, the UCI considers that this preventative measure is extremely important in the context of modern cycling, and wants to introduce it as soon as possible. Important Note: ITU rules have required the compulsory wearing of helmets since 1989 at the first World Champs, Avignon, France. We also fine athletes who do not wear helmets in training, prior to and after our events. We are willing to bet we've saved athletes from serious injuries and maybe deaths! (Photos left: Machiko Nakanishi at T-1 in the Ishigaki World Cup, photo by Spomedis) |
| Affiliation
to ITU As all of you know, 31 March was the deadline for updating the list of your officers that may have changed due to elections. Thank you to those federations who have graciously sent the list of their Executive Board members in order to complete the affiliation to ITU, along with the modest fee of us$300.Just one tiny detail, ITU has a mandatory item in its constitution that insists that 20% of your Executive (a minimum) must be women.For those who sent a list of their members with no women at all, and to those with a paltry one - you need you to try harder. Find a way of getting your numbers up to 20% women, or else! Welcome to the ITU "real world" of gender equity. |
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Host
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NEWS
* FROM * THE * AMERICAS
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| K.O.S.
REPORT at PATCO Coaches Conference. Mexico City Triathlon Canada's National K.O.S. Coordinator: Kristine Chambers (the 1995 Junior Duathlon World Champion) recently presented the highly successful Kids of Steel Programme at the PATCO Solidarity Coaches Conference in Mexico City. Here is her report on that presentation. |
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| Overview:
Presentation of Kids of Steel program at the PATCO, the Pan-American Triathlon
Confederation, the ITU regional organization for the Americas) Coaching
Conference; Mexico City, 2003. Report: Following a whirlwind of preparation, packing, and panicking, the five-hour plane ride posed a welcome respite … and chance to sleep. Spectacular views of misty mountains, dawn sun, then hills caked with houses greeted us on the final descent. Welcome to Mexico City (for a day!) Coaching Conference: Representatives (coaches) from 17 different countries were gathered at Mexico's Olympic Training Centre for a week of coaching education workshops. PATCO sponsors these clinics, offering opportunities for each country to gain knowledge and certification in coaching education. One requirement is a minimum number of international speakers; difficult clientele to secure when the world is at arms. Saturday, March 22nd marked the final day of the March workshop. KOS Presentation: Upon arrival - still clad in plane clothes - I was greeted warmly and informed that "you are presenting right now!" The next two hours included a power point presentation and discussion covering: an overview of the Canadian triathlon system, the scope of Kids of Steel programming (goals, qualities, components) KOS program details (distances / age groups and regulations), and KOS resources (8-week training manual, Race Directors' manual, posters, promotion), and guidelines for coaching young athletes. Sprinkled with several applied activities (mock transitions and brain training), the session was highly successful. (Even the jokes were translated in marvelous fashion by the interpreter!) There was a notable thirst for information, particularly in respect to the KOS development model with appropriate distances and training methods. A lively discussion ensued. Feedback: Canada was commended for its generosity in sharing information and helping to build Triathlon internationally. Mutual respect for these coaches' incredible efforts created an atmosphere of "sharing ideas". They are building coaching and training structures from 'scratch' with no National Sport Organizations to offer informational / educational support. Comments also praised our National "attitude" marked by unconditional assistance for other persons. In the words of one organizer, "sometimes international delegates flaunt superior knowledge and egos. Canada is very empathetic with mutual respect for the other countries". Future Implications: The organizers expressed interest in having Canada return to present to National Sport Federations. They felt the information was extremely valuable and should be shared with other levels of sport leaders. |
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Kids
of Steel will venture south in May to another PATCO coaching conference
in Barbados; there is also a pending opportunity to return and present
in to Sport Federations in Mexico (also in May). Reflection: People have a tendency to get trapped in the details of their own lives. But a trip like this breaks open a new perspective, and allows a glimpse of a larger unity that exists in the world. I was awed by the welcoming reception, warmth, and selflessness of people who are passionately working toward excellence in Triathlon / sport. It is an amazing venture to sit in the Mexican sun, chattering away to a professor from the opposite end of the globe … about kids in sport, child development, coaching methods and the like. It truly is a small world after all! Photo left: Kristine Chambers, National Kids of Steel Coordinator, Triathlon Canada |
| New
Bike Course for Edmonton World Cup Marcie Bonstrom Arnold, Edmonton ITU World Cup writes: The 6 lap bike course for the 13 July Edmonton ITU World Cup has been changed to make it more challenging as well as spectator and television friendly. Athletes exit the lake and proceed to the elite transition area located directly in front of the grandstands. After mounting their bikes, athletes follow the Hawrelak Park Road to the park entrance and proceed on the park access road to the bridge over Groat Road. Athletes climb a pack splitting 400 meters up the steep Emily Murphy Hill (30 meter elevation gain). At the top of the hill, they take a sharp right onto Saskatchewan Drive, continue along this flat section for about one kilometer, then turn onto Groat Road. |
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| Athletes
quickly descend two kilometers on Groat Road and across the bridge over
the North Saskatchewan River. Immediately after crossing the bridge, the
athletes make a sharp and tricky, downhill right turn, sweeping 360 degrees
under the Groat Road bridge and back up to the on-ramp for Groat Road
southbound. The course continues south on Groat Road until reaching Hawrelak
Park. At this point athletes will re-enter the park, pass in front of
the grandstands, exiting the viewing area with a quick chicane, then proceed
along the same route as before. A total 6 laps of this course will be
completed. Vantage points in and adjacent to Hawrelak Park will allow
spectators to see cyclists pass 12 times prior to re-entering the transition
area. Age Group & Athletes with a Disability - 4 Laps: Age Groupers, Athletes with Disabilities, will exit the lake and proceed to the elite transition area, directly in front of the grandstands. Age group athletes continue past the grandstands to their transition area located approximately 250 meters from the swim finish line. After mounting their bikes, athletes follow the Hawrelak Park Road to the park entrance and proceed on the park access road to the bridge over Groat Road. Athletes climb 400 meters up the steep Emily Murphy Hill (30 meter elevation gain). At the top of the hill, they take a sharp right onto Saskatchewan Drive, continue along this flat section for about one kilometer, then turn onto Groat Road. Picking up speed very quickly, athletes begin their descent of Groat Road. The course levels out as it crosses the North Saskatchewan River and then begins a moderate winding ascent through the Groat Ravine, gaining 40 meters in elevation, to 107th Avenue. Athletes exit Groat Road at 107th Avenue, cross over Groat Road, then turn back onto Groat Road southbound for an exciting, curving, downhill ride back into the River Valley. The course continues south on Groat Road until reaching Hawrelak Park. At this point athletes will re-enter the park, pass in front of the grandstands, and then, after a quick chicane in front of the dismount line, proceed along the same route as before. Athletes complete 4 laps of this course. This is exactly the same course that challenged the elite athletes in the 1999 Canadian Championships.For more information at www.triedmonton.com. |
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| USOC
Calls For Major Streamlining The U.S. Olympic Committee should cut 114 of its 123 board members and eliminate its 21- member executive committee, a panel recommended Saturday, paving the way for the most sweeping changes in the history of the organization. The proposals were presented by an in-house task force created in February after three months of turmoil led to eight resignations and drew the ire of Congress. A chairman of the board would oversee a nine-member panel. "The CEO has to be empowered to lead and manage the USOC within board policies, " said task force member Fraser Bullock, former president of the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee. USOC critic Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R.- Colo.) applauded the efforts. Task force members will take suggestions from board members and present its final report at a fall board meeting. |
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St.
Anthony's World Cup Oversubscribed The 2nd World Cup in the 2003 Series, The St. Anthony's ITU World Cup, was heavily over-subscribed. We have therefore applied the rules concerning those who may start. Quite simply, start positions are based on ITU World Ranking Points, the same World Ranking points which will in large part decide eligibility for the Olympic Games, Athens, August 2004. 2002 Podium Champagne Celebration pictured above Click here for Pre-Event Media Release, Start List and Event Details. Live coverage of the event begins at 12:00 p.m. local time, 4:00 p.m. GMT |
| Turks
and Caicos Focus on Motivating Young Athletes Colin Chaffe, President of the National Triathlon Association of the Turks and Caicos Islands writes: We are currently working hard to motivate young people to take the sport up seriously, but we are slowly building a core of adults. Nicola Jordan and I remain the most serious contenders. Nicola was 3rd in age group at St. Anthony's in 2002 and 1st in the Central Florida Sprint Series (top 10 overall), and 1st in her age group at St. Petersburg (Florida State Championships) in September. I was third in the Florida State Championships race and did a couple of smaller races where I won my age group. Nicola and I are both planning to race the Clermont ITU International Triathlon, 4th May as our season opener. |
| ITU
and Costa Rican Olympic Committee vs Guillermo Saenz ITU is presently before the Court of Arbitration for sport in Lausanne in a case brought by Guillermo Saenz of Costa Rica who is challenging the right of the ITU Congress to recognize the New Triathlon Association and its president Sylvia Gonzalez. You will be kept informed on the development of this unfortunate, time consuming and expensive legal action against ITU. |
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Message
For Ibiza Although the waves of civilizations swept over Ibiza; the Romans, the Arabs, the Vandals, the Barbarians, and the Byzantines, it was the Catalans who were last to conquer the island in 1235 and they remain there to this day. It is the latter group that has most strongly affected the language, giving it the melodious charm that is hard to match. Despite the ban on their language during the reign of General Franco, the Catalan people and their language survived and prospered - "El Caudillo" did not! |
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Today this gem of the Mediterranean is quickly moving onto the world stage as a classic venue for International Triathlon competitions. Enjoy the 1 lap swim in "the Med". It will be well marked, so you won't get lost. Check out the hill on the bike course - a slow grind of about 5k, and you'll be doing it twice over the two laps. |
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The long distance triathlon is usually won on the run, and in Ibiza you're going to need a little luck with the wind on the 3 laps course. Pray to the Carthaginian Goddess Tanit, the mother of Gods, the Goddess of earth, who controls all matters related to wind, as well as other good fortune that may affect your race. You'll see her image on many of the ceramic pots made in Ibiza today. Warning to athletes…..stay out of the nightclubs, where the pace is faster than the 2 lap bike course of the triathlon (until after the race!) Our thanks to the Event Organisers led by Joseba Gorrochategui and Rafael Gonzalez, as well as the team at Federacion Espanola de Triatlon, led by Jose Hidalgo, President and Marisol Casado, Executive Director. The Spanish Federation continues to provide our sport with strong leadership, within Europe and worldwide. I'm sure both organizers and federation will be hoping for a repeat of Ivan Rana's victory at the 2002 ITU Cancun World Championships, by one of their many long distance specialists. I would be remiss by failing to acknowledge the tremendous work of Enrique Quesada of the Spanish Federation, our meticulous statistician who keeps the ITU Rankings. Enrique will be working with ITU and several national federations to establish a World Ranking of Long Distance Triathletes, using long distance events of the Nice distance, or as we prefer to say - "the nice distance". Have a successful race, enjoy the people of Ibiza, and don't forget to visit Puig des Molins, one of the world's largest collection of Punic artifacts, (now that they've disappeared from Bagdad). |
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 Gergely Markus, Event Organiser, Tiszaujvaros ITU World Cup, ETU Secretary General, Event Manager 2004 Athens Olympic Games Triathlon, ITU Technical Committee |
I am Hungarian, and have organized for several years, with friends and family, the World Cup in my village of Tiszaujvaros, which sits on the plains of Romania. This important Triathlon World Cup has been very important for our village, which has the full support of the Mayor and the Municipal Council. We also count on the support of the two IOC members in Hungary, both of them Olympic: Mr. Tamas Ajan and His Excellency Pal Schmitt, former ambassador to Spain and Switzerland, and President of the World Olympians Association. |
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It is my understanding that the USATriathlon Federation is once again sanctioning the Minneapolis Triathlon, called the "Battle of the Sexes".The details of the competition in 2002 were in contradiction to the ideals of Olympians in my and other's opinion, and not in sympathy with real equality for Women in Sport. It would
appear that the Minneapolis Triathlon this year is on the same date
as the Tiszaujvaros ITU World Cup with the potential of seriously damaging
our event, if not destroying it. This is not right! |
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Convicted
Sex Offended Back Coaching in Australia For some reason, even knowing these facts, he has been given access to coaching facilities at the Sports Super Centre. Triathlon Australia - who revoked his coaching accreditation and removed all access to public liability insurance to him as a coach - as well as the Australian and International Olympic Committees, have been made aware of the fact Sutton is coaching from a facility whose nominated charitable fund is "The Gold Coast Children in Need Fund". Ironic in itself. In the words of ITU President Les McDonald, "It will be interesting to see whether or not Australia's national governing body (TA) will indeed 'govern' on this issue." Time will tell. |
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Ishigaki
a Successful Start to the Exciting 2003 World Cup Season The warm
weather conditions in Ishigaki provided an ideal backdrop for the first
race of this pre-Olympic year. Current World Ranked #1, Barb Lindquist (USA) proved why she belongs in the top spot. Barb established an early lead in the swim, but was reeled in by a pack consisting of the current World Champion Leanda Cave of Britain, Loretta Harrop of Australia and Laura Reback of the USA. |
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Ten seconds
behind, Beatrice Lanza brought Italy their first-ever silver medal in
a World Cup event. Michelle Dillon a further 20 seconds back, and obviously
suffering from the heat crossed the line. Emma Snowsill moved into 4th
to post her best finish ever, and Mariana Ohata of Brazil rounded out
the top 5. Seven countries were represented in the top 10, a credit
to the depth of the women's field. In the
men's event Greg Bennett outran Chris Hill for victory. The event started
with Japan's Hiroki Hikita delighting the hometown crowd by leading
the 61 elite men off the start line. A group of at least 40 men stayed
within 10 seconds of each other as they stormed through transition ready
for the 6 lap bike course. The Japanese
spectators were further excited as Hikita continued to lead through
the early stages of the bike, with Japanese teammate Takumi Obara, Matt
Reed of New Zealand, Canada's Brent McMahon, Richard Stannard and Marc
Jenkins of Britain close behind. The pack continued to grow, but several
breakaway attempts, including two by the Japanese teammates, kept the
crowd excited. On the
run course, Chris Hill of Australia, the current World Ranked #1 quickly
took the lead as World Ranked #2, Greg (AUS), also looked very strong
off the bike. A cat and mouse game ensued between Greg and Chris through
the final lap, but Bennett had just a little too much in reserve and
was able to pull away in the final section of the race to win the World
Cup and win back the title of World Ranked #1. Rasmus Henning of Denmark
was third with Leandro Macedo of Brazil in 4th, and Dimitry Gaag of
Kazakhstan coming in 5th. Top
10 Results: 9 countries represented Complete
information is available on www.triathlon.org. ITU will continue to
provide live event coverage for all World Cup events. Also visit www.triathlon.org
to see the event photo gallery courtest of ITU Media / spomedis 2003:
Photos by Frank Wechsel. The next World Cup stop is St. Anthony's Florida - April 26. |
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ITU
Congress in Gamagori Postponed Due to SARS SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrom, has raised concern internationally and most certainly within ITU. We have taken the step of postponing the ITU Congress scheduled for the 15 June, Gamagori, Japan - the principle reason being that delegates from China, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Singapore, the principle centres of the affliction, posed a threat to the health of other delegates, at date of writing more so.This would not be the case for the Gamagori World Cup Scheduled at the same time.China has been severely critised for its lax attitude to this dangerous life-threatening disease. The government of China has removed the recently elected Mayor of Beijing and the Minister of Health, as a result of this criticism.We will monitor this tragic danger to life, and act accordingly to protect the safety of our athletes. Greg Bennett (left) won the 2002 Gamagori World Cup |
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WORLD
* ANTI-DOPING * AGENCY
W A D A |
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ITU
Among First IFs to Sign WADA Agreement ITU Headquarter's Note: ITU was one of the first IFs to sign the WADA Agreement. Be warned athletes, put nothing in your body unless you are 250% sure you know what it is, and that it is not on the banned list. There is zero tolerance for doping. Is ITU worried? No! We know our athletes - they are clean? |
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| Cyclist
Axelsson admits doping several times Stockholm (Reuters) - Banned Swedish cyclist Nicklas Axelsson on Sunday admitted to having taken illegal substances on more than one occasion.Axelsson was handed a four-year ban from competition in the autumn of 2001 after testing positive for the illegal substance EPO at the world championships in Lisbon."I have done it before, " he told Swedish public television SVT on Sunday."I have done it in moments of pressure… like when directors tell you 'If you don't win, you won't get your pay!" |
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| Volunteers,
Athens 2004 Volunteers are scarce in Greece. If you know of anyone who would like to participate and be a part of the "triathlon team" to make these Games work, let us know. Conditions - If they can find their way to Athens, ITU will look after them once they get there, from camping on the beach, sleeping in the Acropolis or a cabin in the Onassis liner in the harbour. Applications welcome - no triflers please! |
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Quote of the Week "Triathlon is a simple sport, complicated by coaches." Ellen Wilkinson |
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ROLL
THE CREDITS |