World Triathlon

By ITU Sports Development Officer, Brett Mace in Greece

Following the successful staging of the European Junior and Youth Championships in Alexandroupolis Greece, ITU and ETU conducted a ‘trial’ Sport Development Camp for 17 athletes from 4 countries as part of the new ITU Sport Development Program.

Athletes from Greece, Bulgaria, Spain and Israel participated in the Camp with Claude Meyer from France as Head Coach assisted, by Juan Mayol the National Junior & Youth Coach for Spain.

Due to a conflict with another event, numbers were less than expected but those athletes who attended enjoyed a week of developing their triathlon skills and gaining an understanding of what is required to become a successful triathlete.  During the week athletes also undertook a number of trials as part of the new ITU Sport Development Database for Junior Athletes.

Camp Organiser, Thanos Nikopoulos ensured that all participants were well looked after during the week’s activities including a tough cycle into the wind up to near the Turkish border.  Following this, ITU hosted a farewell dinner for participants at one of the many outdoor restaurants along the beautiful waterfront in Alexandroupolis.

Like most of the ITU Camps held this year, this was a good opportunity for the ITU Sport Development Department to work with, and meet those Coaches and Organisers who have been conducting these Camps in the past and work towards implementing the new ITU Sport Development Program that will commence from 2006.