British Triathlon has launched a new major events strategy designed to take the sport through to 2024 and further enhance their dedication to providing increased opportunities to experience the sport across the country.
The major events strategy includes the recently announced 2022 World Triathlon Championships Series Leeds (11-12 June), 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea (6 Aug) and also sees the British Triathlon Super Series Grand Final move to Sunderland for the first time.
The three-year strategy ensures the commitment for the future of the three major events taking place in the UK until 2024, and also commits to working with a variety of event organisers to further develop the sport in new and innovative ways.
A central part of British Triathlon’s strategy was to secure a long-term venue for a World Triathlon Para Series event. The Leeds event in 2021 brought this to reality as a key step in promoting and supporting the development of the sport across the world.
Supported by the Welsh Government, the World Triathlon Para Series Swansea will be the first stand-alone event of this level in the UK, also leading to the establishment of a para sport festival in the city as well as a legacy programme run by Welsh Triathlon to encourage more people into the sport.
The Super Series Grand Final Sunderland will support the development of the swim bike and run agenda with the city and its local communities as well as offering vital competition opportunities for the next generation of World Class Programme athletes.
The opportunities provided by having a robust three-year events strategy will also allow British Triathlon and the Home Nations to build capacity and upskill its workforce of staff and volunteers, providing a legacy for clubs and local groups across the country.
The strategy supports British Triathlon’s performance related goals and Triathlon England’s recently launched Big Active Strategy which includes a major shift towards working in 17 places across England, developing capacity and embedding swim, bike, run in local communities to give a measurable and lasting social impact.
The social impact of British Triathlon’s major events will form a major part of the work with local organisations and partners to ensure that these events facilitate increasing opportunities for people to get active through swim, bike, run initiatives and develop positive changes in local communities.
Andy Salmon, British Triathlon CEO, said: “I am extremely proud to be launching this strategy and reinforcing our commitment to bringing swim, bike, run to more people in new areas around the country.
“The team have worked tirelessly to ensure that we offer opportunities to match our performance ambition with giving those new to the sport the chance to experience all that a multisport event has to offer.
“I want to thank our partners including UK Sport and World Triathlon for helping us bring our ambitions to life, our host city partners and also the other bids we received from cities across the country, who we hope will play a role in the development of our Super Series longer term.
“I am excited about the positive social impact we can create in the communities we are working in as we look forward to seeing people enjoy our sport in not one but three key locations in 2022 and beyond.”
Esther Britten, UK Sport Head of Major Events said: “British Triathlon’s vision and ambition to grow the reach of their sport by showcasing triathlon and paratriathlon across the country and enhancing their societal impact, particularly across participation and environmental sustainability, is to be commended. We look forward to working closely with them to deliver this impactful portfolio of events.”
Marisol Casado, World Triathlon President said: “We are thrilled that Leeds will join once again our family hosting a leg of the World Triathlon Championship Series, and Swansea stepping up to welcome the best para triathletes of the world for a World Triathlon Para Series. We are extremely proud of our partnership with British Triathon and it will be fantastic to join forces with them once again to deliver first class events for all"
Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, said: “I’m delighted that we’re able to support British Triathlon in bringing this event to Swansea and that the city will, once again, get a chance to demonstrate its expertise in successfully hosting a major para sport event - following on from the city’s successful hosting of the 2014 IPC Athletics European Championship. This reaffirms our commitment to the development of disability sport with the event and the parasport festival providing a further platform to promote sporting opportunities for disabled people. The event also makes the most of the city’s fantastic waterfront location - and we look forward to welcoming the athletes to Wales and Swansea next year.”
Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor James Lewis said: “We are delighted Leeds will once again be hosting another major international event with the World Triathlon Championships Series in June next year. Since the city hosted the event for the first time in 2016, it has grown to become a much-anticipated fixture on the sporting calendar with Leeds firmly established as the home of triathlon in the UK, so we look forward to another fantastic event for everyone to enjoy both watching and taking part in the mass-participation elements across the weekend.”
Cllr Graeme Miller Sunderland City Council Leader said: “We are extremely excited by this opportunity and the recognition that Sunderland could do something really special in staging a Super Series Grand Final next year. It’s a huge coup for the city. We are really clear that building participation in sport and physical activity is key for all our communities and all our Swim / Bike / Run opportunities within the city are very much aligned to British Triathlon’s Big Active campaign.”
Entries for the World Triathlon Championships Series Leeds will be opening soon, if you are interested in competing please register your interest now
