Only one year after the London 2012 Olympic Games, world class triathlon will return. London will host the Grand Final of the ITU World Triathlon Series known as the PruHealth World Triathlon Grand Final London.
The event, which is part of the prestigious UK Sport Gold Event Series, will be hosted over five days from 11-15 September at the Olympic triathlon venue in Hyde Park and will see the likes of Olympic Gold Medalist Alistair Brownlee and his younger brother, the reigning World Champion, Jonathan, battle for the World Championship title.
Alongside the Senior Elite events will be further World Championship races for Junior, U23 and Paratriathletes as well as an Age Group World Championship race for club level athletes from all around the world. Nearly 5,000 international athletes are expected to compete for World Championship titles across 5 days in Hyde Park.
Whilst all of the above races require pre-qualification the organisers have announced today that on Saturday 14 September an open triathlon race will also be held in Hyde Park. No entry standard or pre-qualification is required for this Open Age Group race but entries will be limited to 2,000 people. As one of the key legacy events of the London Olympic Games, the event is expected to be heavily oversubscribed as it provides the unique opportunity to finish on the same line as the Olympic Champions at the London 2012 triathlon venue.
For a chance to secure a place, applicants need to enter a ballot athttp://london.triathlon.org/
The ballot will run from 21 February to 5 March 2013.
Timeline for the ballot is as follows:
Thursday 21 February at 10:00 – Ballot Opens
Tuesday 5 March at 23:59 – Ballot Closes
Thursday 7 March – All applicants informed if they have been successful or not
More details are available on www.london.triathlon.org
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “Following the inspirational performances of team GB’s Brownlee brothers last summer we’re absolutely delighted that the World Triathlon Grand Final is coming to London. Nearly 7,000 people of all fitness levels will be able to take part in this fantastic event, which will no doubt build on the inspiration and the legacy of the London 2012 Games.”
Jonathan Brownlee, Bronze medal winner at London 2012 said: “It will be so special coming back to London only a year after the Olympics. Hosting the Grand Final is such a great legacy of the Games, and of course I hope to be in a position to defend my World Champion title on home soil.”
Simon Morton, Director of Major Events and International Relations at UK Sport said: “The unique nature of this event which will welcome 5,000 athletes across various age groups and levels plus the truly unique opportunity for 2,000 members of the general public to race on the Olympic triathlon venue of Hyde Park clearly demonstrates that the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic Games is being brought to life. UK Sport is proud to support the event as a part of the Gold Event Series, a spectacular series of events being held in the UK from 2013 to 2019.”
Iain Edmondson, Head of Major Events for the city’s promotional organisation London & Partners added:
“As well as being shown on national and international TV, the event will have a huge number of international competitors including hundreds travelling from as far afield as Australia, USA and Brazil. The city will be helping to replicate the atmosphere from last year’s successful Games by using volunteers to make the competitors and spectators welcome to our streets.”
The event being organised in partnership between Upsolut Sports UK and British Triathlon and is part of UK Sport’s Gold Events Series, the UK’s legacy programme of major international sporting events, and is supported by the Mayor of London being one of the first major Olympic legacy events happening in London post the London 2012 Olympic Games.
To enter the ballot for this race visit http://london.triathlon.org
