With just one year to go until the Olympic and Paralympic Games, British triathletes are heading to Japan to train and race ahead of Tokyo 2020.

Before racing in the test events in Tokyo, athletes from the Olympic and Paralympic programmes will be taking part in a training camp in southern Japan; giving them the opportunity to live and train in the hot and humid conditions they will face whilst racing.

With a large group of Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls travelling to the camp, the athletes will have the chance to get used to living, training and travelling together as a group. A team of coaches, sports scientists and support staff are also in Japan to put the athletes through their paces and record valuable information to help them prepare for 2020.

From the camp, the group will travel up to Tokyo to take part in the test events from 15-18 August, as organisers and athletes alike gear up with only one year to go until the Games.

The Olympic test events, taking place on 15 and 16 August for the men and women respectively, will give the athletes sight of where the racing will take place next year. For British medallists from Rio 2016, a top three finish will also see them receive nomination for the Team GB triathlon squad this time around. You can view the 2020 Olympic selection policy here.

The Paralympic test event on 17 August will also take place around the Odaiba Marine Park where next year’s racing will happen. Featuring a replica of the Statue of Liberty; this venue will be a mirror the one athletes will face in 2020 and provide them with the opportunity to take a step towards nomination for the 2020 ParalympicsGB team. The full Paralympic selection policy is available here.

Mixed relay will be making its Olympic debut in 2020, and a team of two men and two women will have the opportunity to get in some valuable practice before they leave Japan. Taking place on 18 August, each athlete in the quartet will swim 300m, cycle 7.4km and run 2km. The introduction of the mixed relay will give athletes a second medal opportunity, with the quartet that will represent Team GB next year chosen from the three men and three women who qualify for the individual races.

Mike Cavendish, Performance Director at British Triathlon, said: “Having this opportunity to bring together athletes from both our Olympic and Paralympic programmes, to train and get used to the conditions, is a key part of our preparations for the test events and for Tokyo 2020.

“The test events themselves are important for deciding who is nominated to represent Team GB and ParalympicsGB next year and will really push our athletes due to the conditions and intense competition that racing on the international stage brings.”

2019 Tokyo ITU World Olympic Qualification Event

15-16 August 2019

2019 Tokyo ITU Paratriathlon World Cup

17 August 2019

2019 ITU World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series Tokyo

18 August 2019

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

24 July – 9 August 2020

26 July 2020 (men’s individual event)

27 July 2020 (women’s individual event)

1 August 2020 (mixed relay event)