25 February 2004 ITU News Update

• Olympic Solidarity Camp Registration Now Open!
• 2004 ITU PANAMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP - ACAPULCO
• Enrique Quesada in Guatemala
• ITU Mazatlan World Championships

When: July 4 – 12, 2004 , Edmonton
Who: 100 developing athletes aged 16-19 from around the world
Registration: Now open for this 8-day camp which runs for the week leading up to the Edmonton ITU World Cup and the Pan American Junior Championships.

Junior athletes will learn valuable skills and knowledge from 8 world-class coaches headed by Jackie Gallagher (Australian U23 & Junior Program Manager).  Everything from strength training and skill development to transition and open water swimming will be covered throughout the week.

Athletes will stay on the University of Alberta campus with access to first-rate training facilities.  The week will climax with the Edmonton ITU World Cup where solidarity athletes will race on the same course as the elites athletes and watch the best triathletes in the world compete.

2004 ITU PANAMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP - ACAPULCO

Full event details are now available on www.triathlon.org  for the 2004 ITU Pan-American Championship in Acapulco, Mexico. 

On a recent site visit to Acapulco, Antonio Alvarez, ITU Executive Board and President of PATCO, introduced ITU Executive Director, Loreen Barnett to many of the city authorities who are very supportive of the event, and especially Damian Alvarez, the Director General of Acapulco Tourism.  The venue for the Pan American Championships is stunningly beautiful, situated on the north end of Bahia de Acapulco on Playa Hornos. 

www.triathlon.org will bring you all the results from Acapulco.

Enrique Quesada in Guatemala

Enrique Quesada, ITU Technical Official and World Rankings Manager recently ventured to Guatemala to stage a 3-day event organisers and officials conference.  Here is Enrique’s message from Guatemala: “Guatemala was great!!! Mario (Guatemala President Dr. Mario Rodriguez) has created a really good team in the federation.  The people working there are totally involved with triathlon (Vicky, Karen, Maggy, Boris, Maynord, Maria, Olga, Yari, Mario, Cordon, Cesar, and many others who I will tell you about in another message.)  They all work much more than the contracts reflect, as everyone feels that triathlon belongs to them.

The team there took in all of the images and words that I had to offer.  They were like thirsty sponges and I was very happy giving them all my knowledge, experience and ability.

The Guatemala Event Organisers and Officials Conference was attended by 40 people all involved in triathlon from the different provinces of Guatemala.  There were also people from other sports and from the State Sport Administration Body.  They were wonderful and profitable days in Guatemala.  They took most of my energy and I returned home to Madrid tired and happy.

Jaime Cadaval, President of the Mexican Triathlon Federation, Nelly Becerra, ITU Officials and ITU Women’s Committee and Loreen Barnett, Executive Director of ITU recently spent a very productive day with the Event Organisers of the Mazatlan ITU World Cup. 

The key people in the organisation are Lucia Mijares, Head of Media and Marketing and Francisco Ayala (Paco), the Event Manager.  Although the 8 lap bike course is completely flat, the challenges of the Pacific coastal waters and the staging of the event in a concise stadium-like area, promises to make this event a long-term stop on the World Cup calendar.

© www.triathlon.org 2004