Projects

Current ITU/BG Sport Development initiatives include:

Team BG Elite Athlete Development programme (EADP)
BG Triathlon Development Camps
BG Scholarship programme
BG Triathlon Coach Education and resources

1. Team BG Elite Athlete Development Programme

Each year, there will be three designated Team BG Elite Athlete Development events with five places for women and five for men.
Following a successful application by a National Federation, chosen athletes will be able to attend the events with their national federation coach giving them vital experience at BG Triathlon World Cup level.
The inaugural Team BG Elite Athlete Development programme took place at the Beijing BG Triathlon World Cup on 24 September 2006. Four female athletes attended from Sweden, Bermuda and South Africa.

2. BG Triathlon Development Camps

Each year there will be five eight-day camps in Africa, Asia, Pan America, Oceania and Europe, as well as one World Camp. Up to 40 developing athletes aged between 15 and 23, selected by the ITU and the relevant national federation, will benefit from coaching from international coaches who will be supported by coaching assistants. These assistants will themselves be developing coaching skills to take back to their home nation. The first BG Triathlon World Camp took place in Hungary in August 2006, it was attended by 31 athletes from 14 different countries.
NB. Applications only accepted from National Federations to Libby Burrell.

3. BG Scholarship Programme

The target group will be athletes from emerging/developing National Federations who have already shown competence at a Continental Cup level and are looking to make the step up to top level training and racing but need the support in order to do so.
Athletes and coaches selected for the scholarship programme will be carefully ‘placed’ in a programme commensurate with their specific needs in the interest of their progressive development to an elite level.
Athletes should be seen as Olympic prospects (2012) by their National Federations. The athletes will be drawn primarily from U23 ranks. Coaches will also be considered for the scholarship programme and will need to carry the support of their National Federation.

4. BG Triathlon Coach Education and Resources

Novice and intermediate coaches will have the opportunity to take part in the ITU Community Triathlon Coaching Course or the ITU Competitive Triathlon Coaching course and gain official accreditation from the ITU.
National federations which already operate their own coaching system will also be eligible to apply for accreditation. The coach resources will help increase the number of accredited coaches and ensure the quality of teaching is strengthened across the world.
The first BG Triathlon Coaching Course took place in Beijing prior to the World Cup and was attended by 15 coaches from 5 different countries.