ITU News Update: 31 May 2004

Thank you to the Geel World Championship Duathlon Team!

A huge thank you to the Geel ITU Duathlon World Championships Team for a very successful ITU Duathlon World Championships:
· Jan Daems, Geel ITU Duathlon World Championships Organising Committee,
· Clive Faine, Chair ITU Duathlon Commission,
· Brian Hinton, ITU Executive Liaison to Duathlon,
· Graeme Kempson, ITU Technical Delegate and Eugene Kraus, ITU Referee
· Ed Rice and Brian Mahony, ITU Media Team

The best-ever Duathlon World Championships saw home country favourite Benny Vansteelant (BEL) win the Duathlon World Championship title for the second year in a row. In the women's event Erika Csomor (HUN) claimed her first World Duathlon title.

The following is a thank you message to the organizing committee from ITU President, Les McDonald.

Greetings all,

I want to add my words to the positive report that ITU Executive Board member Brian Hinton has given following today’s World Championships in Geel - I would like to add my voice to the declaration that the 2004 Geel ITU Duathlon World Championships was the best ever – by far.

Jan, it would appear that you and your team in Geel are exactly what ITU is looking for in talented event organisers with whom ITU can partner over the long term to produce quality ITU events.

Clive, what a difference a year makes! The miracle that you have produced for Duathlon is tremendous – I’m sure the athletes, the event organisers and the national federation, led by Jef Konings, a founder of ITU, will join me in a collective “thank you” for a job well done!

Graeme and Eugene, thank you for ensuring that everyone had a safe and fair World Championships despite adverse weather. As protégés of Michel Gignoux, we are proud to have you manage our events.

Brian H (as opposed to Brian M) – ITU cannot help but thank you for the tireless hours that you have spent on the Duathlon project. You have run up endless dollars in phone bills, and many frequent flyer miles to support the development of Duathlon. I don’t think that any of us understand how much of your heart and soul you have put into the “dry tri”.

Ed and “the other Brian”: ITU Media has taken us to heights in exposure for not only Duathlon, but also Triathlon – none of us could have imagined the exposure that you have brought to ITU through the news feed after each event, the live coverage on www.triathlon.org, the partners that you have brought to ITU such as Richard Hornsby-Smith and BBC Worldwide, Frank Weschel and Silke Insel (spomedis), Morten Toft (USS) and now Imaginative Innovations and ITUtv. Thank you so much – we look forward to many more surprises from ITU Media.

You are a special group and ITU is lucky to have you on our team.

Yours sincerely,
Les McDonald, President

Erika Csomor (HUN)

2004 Duathlon World Champions

IOC OLYMPIC SOLIDARITY CAMP, EDMONTON, CANADA - JULY 4 - 12, 2004

There has been an overwhelming response to the ITU Olympic Solidarity Camp in Edmonton, July 4th to 12th. The camp, originally capped at 60 athletes, has had to increase its capacity to 80 athletes. There are athletes from fifteen countries registered. The 'Race Prep' camp will culminate in the PATCO junior and youth championships, which will take place prior to the Edmonton ITU World Cup on Sunday July 11th. This will be an opportunity to see the next generation of Olympic hopefuls as they hone their skills on a world cup course.

Jackie Gallagher, former Triathlon World Champion, Commonwealth Games Medallist, Youth and U23 Development Officer for Australia, is camp head coach. She will be joined by ten assistant coaches including, Brendan Downey, Nelly Becerra and Kristine Chambers, Canada's Kids of Steel development officer. The theme for the camp is 'Train Smart, Race Smart'.

There are a few slots remaining in the camp, registration deadline has been extended to June 4th. Registration information is on www.triedmonton.com.

ITU Coach Seminar sessions are planned in conjunction with the IOC Solidarity Camp. The first session planned for Friday afternoon is entitled:'Triathlon Coaching Education and Certification'.
The second session planned for Saturday afternoon is entitled:'Beijing 2008 Olympic Triathlon Qualification'. We are fortunate to have German Olympic Coach Ralph Ebbling and Spanish Olympic Coach Andreu Alfonso joining for this component of the camp.

In addition to the Solidarity camp coaches, all federation accredited coaches in Edmonton for the world cup will be invited to attend the ITU Coach Seminar Session. All non-camp coaches wishing to register for the seminar should email sokelly@bhapr.com. It is necessary to pre-register in order for the organisers to arrange appropriate facilities.

All camp participants, world cup athletes and coaches will be invited to attend a very special 'Olympic Celebration Party' hosted by the Mayor of Edmonton and the Edmonton Hellenic Association on Sunday July 11th at 8pm at Edmonton City Hall. Triathlon Canada will officially announce Canada's Olympic Triathlon Team at this function. The theme is 'Athens 2004'. Greek food and entertainment will be in abundance. Be prepared to smash some plates!

The ITU Solidarity Camp will officially end on Monday July 12th with a ' Road to Beijing Farewell Breakfast' at the University Of Alberta.

ITU Official Apparel Supplier


World Cup Series T-shirts available here

RACE TRIATHLON CANADA'S ITU CIRCUIT
An Invitation to all athletes to Race Canada's Three-in-a-Row-in-July'

Athletes are encouraged to compete in Canada's ITU race series. The series is kicked off with the Edmonton ITU Solidarity camp (July 4 to July 12) and Edmonton ITU World Cup and Canadian Olympic Qualifier, July 11.

From Edmonton Athletes can make their way to Corner Brook Newfoundland. Here they will experience maritime hospitality that is second to none. Athletes will be accommodated for the entire length of their stay. The July 18 Corner Brook ITU World Cup, features a festival of triathlon activities including a series of swim, bike run events in the week leading up to the world cup. All events carry prize money.

From Corner Brook athletes are invited to return to Toronto and stay at the Caledon Training Centre for the two weeks leading up to the Caledon ITU Continental Cup, July 31. The Caledon Continental triathlon also features the Triathlon Canada Kids of Steel Junior Championship. International athletes are welcome to participate.

Homestay accommodation can be provided at all three locations. For more information on the individual events please check:

Edmonton ITU World Cup, July 11th : www.triedmonton.com
Corner Brook ITU World Cup, July 18th: www.triourworld.com
Caledon ITU Continental Cup, July 31st: www.c3online.ca

What's New on www.triathlon.org:

- Please visit www.triathlon.org to view the incredible photos and coverage of the Geel Duathlon World Championships