World Games To Double As 2013 Duathlon World Champs

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has announced the duathlon competition of the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia slated for July 26-27, 2013 will now act as the 2013 ITU Duathlon World Championships for elite athletes, replacing the previous host city Segovia.

See the complete press release below:

The World Games, first held in 1981, are a major international multi-sport event held every four years for sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games. The World Games are under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee and many sports included in previous World Games later achieved Olympic Games status including triathlon which was part of the 1993 edition held in The Hague, Netherlands.

“It is always a great thrill being accepted onto the programme of a major Games, especially for an emerging sport like duathlon that has great potential,” said Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member. “We are excited the World Games has welcomed duathlon and we look forward to a wonderful Games in 2013.”

Duathlon appears in the World Games for the first time in 2013 with high hopes of remaining on the program in the future.

The event will follow the standard ITU duathlon distance of 10km run, 40km bike, 5km run and the qualification criteria are as follows:

– Qualifier events are the 2012 Nancy ITU Duathlon World Championships and the last Continental Championships held in the period of 1 June 2012 to 31 May 2013.

– ITU Duathlon Ranking will also be used, which includes any other ITU Duathlon events as well as National Championships communicated to ITU.

As Segovia will no longer host the 2013 ITU Duathlon World Championships, a new venue is being explored for all non-elite categories, such as age-group sprint and standard, junior, Under23 and paratriathletes.