The International Triathlon Union (ITU) is delighted to hear today that Paratriathlon has been accepted into the Paralympic Games and will debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) made the decision at the IPC Governing Board meeting in Guangzhou, China ahead of the 10th Asian Para Games.
Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member, said:
"ITU is deeply honoured to join the Paralympic Family and have our inspirational paratriathletes compete alongside the remarkable Paralympians from around the world. On behalf of the ITU, I would like to thank IPC President Sir Phil Craven and the Governing Board members.
I am confident Paratriathlon will contribute to the Paralympic Movement and inspire people and youth worldwide. It has been a long road to reach this milestone but we know the real work begins now as we dedicate our efforts to delivering spectacular Paratriathlon competitions in Rio 2016."
ITU has supported the development of Paratriathlon for more than 15 years and has held Paratriathlon World Championships every year since 1995.
Sarah Springman, ITU Vice President and Executive Board Representative to the ITU Paratriathlon Committee said:
"Today's Paralympic Games invitation from the IPC is the culmination of years of dedication and commitment to the development of Paratriathlon. Our long-held ambition has come true. We would like to thank the members of the IPC and everyone who has contributed to the bid, including our paratriathletes and triathletes, our National Federations, passionate supporters and of course our hardworking Paratriathlon Committee led by Grant Darby and our invaluable staff liaison member, Thanos Nikopoulos.
We are committed to working together with the IPC to continue to promote Paratriathlon development from entry to elite level. As a pinnacle of the movement, the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will become a catalyst to encourage people with disabilities to take up Paratriathlon, and we are absolutely delighted that our charismatic paratriathletes of today, and many more from the future, will be a part of it."
A total of seven sports formally submitted their bid applications to the IPC, and Para-canoe was also added to the Rio 2016 programme.
