Hat-Trick for London as event grows to provide a Royal view

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London’s Hyde Park will play host to the ITU World Championships Series Triathlon for a third time in 2011, it has been announced today.
 
The Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series event, to be staged on August 6 and 7th, will include a Royal view of the elite races with the world’s top competitors racing around Hyde Park and the streets of London to Buckingham Palace and back.
 
“We’re building on the success of staging this global event in 2009 and 2010 by announcing the 2011 dates today�, said James Robinson, Commercial Director, Upsolut Sports UK Ltd.

“Triathlon is a fast growing, dynamic modern Olympic sport which for this free to view event offers spectators the opportunity to watch the best triathletes in the World. Britain also has the reputation of being amongst the best nations in the world with triathletes like Alistair Brownlee, Helen Jenkins and Hollie Avil all having won world titles since 2008�, said Zara Hyde-Peters, Chief Executive of British Triathlon.
 
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson added: 'The Triathlon World Championships are an exhilarating spectacle, both for the world-class athletes taking part and the fans cheering them on. Hosting them next year will be an opportunity for Londoners and visitors alike to experience the thrill of an Olympic sport on the capital's streets and for organisers to see one of the chosen venues in top-flight action as anticipation builds for the 2012 Games.'
 
The unique mix of elite sport combined with amateur racers testing themselves at the same event has proven a successful recipe.
 
More than 3,000 are due to take part in the 2010 event this weekend which features a swim in the Serpentine followed by bike and run courses around the Park.
 
25,000 spectators are due in the finish area grandstands and more than 100,000 will see the action in Hyde Park and on the streets of London. 
 
The global TV reach of the event is already significant with live/ and or highlights in 146 territories. In the UK, live action from the men’s event will be shown on BBC2 (15.00 – 18.00, Sunday 25 July) with red button coverage of the women’s event on 24 July and with a further hour-long magazine package on Channel 4 and British Eurosport.
 
An Expo, including trade and other exhibition space and events, will be part of the spectator experience.
 
The team behind the 2009 and 2010 event - being run by Upsolut Sports UK Ltd and British Triathlon in association with the ITU and supported by UK Sport and the city’s “Events for London� team - has already succeeded in attracting a mix of private and public funding to ensure that the event continues to grow.