World Triathlon

194 WORLD TRIATHLON 2017 I ITU DEVELOPMENT ATHLETES AND COACHES Our global development programme remains at the heart of the ITU, with annual investment of US$1.3 million providing the resources for hundreds of activities around the world that help to grow our sport and reach new audiences. We want to empower our National Federations and ensure that they are using these resources in the most efficient and effective ways. To that end, the ITU is currently drawing up its strategic plan for 2018-2021 to set new, ambitious targets for world triathlon. In July and August, we signed Development Grants with the African Triathlon Union and American Triathlon Confederation that will further our effort to uncover new athletes and coaches as well as encouraging more women to take up the sport. In November, we agreed the Development Grant with the Asian Triathlon Confederation, again listening to the wish-lists of the National Federations and working to realise their needs and move forward to everyone's satisfaction. Team ITU is the embodiment of our effort to discover and nurture new talent, providing support, resources and expertise to selected triathletes to compete at a World Cup level. The 2017 season could hardly have started any better for its members, successfully kicking off the season at the Chengdu World Cup before moving on to six further events across three distances. For these young triathletes, who come from emerging or developing nations, the exciting prospect of the road to Tokyo 2020 qualification has only just begun. "It's critical for the sport to develop globally", said Mick Delamotte, Head Coach of Team ITU in Chengdu. "We're not only introducing new athletes, but we're establishing legacies in new countries within the sport and that's important to grow it, both at a grassroots participation level, but hopefully at an elite level going forward. Not just for this Olympic cycle, but for future generations of triathletes across the world and in these countries." TRIATHLON DEVELOPMENT

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