Triathlon Congress, World Champs
Triathlon’s 2012 world championship is taking shape just as its 2011 edition comes to a close.
At its 24th annual congress, the International Triathlon Union unveiled Thursday the eight cities that will host stops along next year’s flagship ITU World Championship Series.
For the third straight year, the event will begin on the Sydney course with which the sport made its Olympic debut in 2000.
Races in San Diego, California; Madrid; Kitzbühel, Austria; Hamburg, Germany; Lausanne and Yokohama, Japan will follow with the grand finale to be staged in Auckland, New Zealand.
"The ITU World Championship Series is the pinnacle of triathlon, which will be exemplified with the 2012 installment of the series and a line-up of eight world class cities," ITU president Marisol Casado said in a statement.
Also Thursday, London was selected as the grand final city for the 2013 series.
"It's always very special to come back to an Olympic Games venue so we are thrilled to return to London for the ITU World Championship Grand Final in 2013," said Casado.
The 2012 schedulearrives on the eve of the 2011 grand final in Beijing, where world champions will be crowned Friday in paratriathlon, Saturday in men’s triathlon and Sunday in women’s.
Seventy-eight of the best male triathletes and 70 of the top females will compete at the event, which will take place on the Beijing Olympic triathlon course.
Rugby World Cup Underway
Hosts New Zealand are off to a strong start in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The All Blacks defeated Oceania rival Tonga 41-10 in a Pool A matchup.
Competition begins in earnest Saturday with four matches being contested. The marquee matchup is England and Argentina. England won the 2003 World Cup, and Los Pumas are ranked ninth in the world, yet they routinely seem to surprise the world at the RWC by progressing deep into the tournament.
Rugby fans who missed the opening match will have plenty of time to catch some rugby action. The final is scheduled for Oct. 23, some six weeks away.
3x3 Hoops Hold First-Ever World Champs
Basketball’s first-ever 3x3 youth world championship tips off today in Rimini, Italy.
The half-court, three-to-a-side discipline debuted at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, then underwent a rebranding last month as FIBA campaigns for its Olympic inclusion.
3x3 hoops features non-stop music, fast-paced action and games lasting less than 15 minutes.
This weekend’s competition includes 36 countries for boys and 24 for girls as well a co-ed shootout, skills challenge for girls only and dunk contest for boys only.
ATR understands FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann, also an IOC member from Switzerland, will be in Rimini for at least a portion of the championships to help promote the 3x3 brand.
IOC Executive Board members will decide in 2013 whether to include any new disciplines on the Olympic program ahead of the 2016 Games.
Japan in 2012 Women’s Football Tournament
Japan could win Olympic gold in football shortly after winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
On Friday, the team qualified for the 2012 Olympics after Australia defeated China in Asian qualifiers. Australia’s victory ensured Japan would finish first, with the top two teams securing Olympic berths.
North Korea is currently second and Australia third.
The tournament ends Sunday in Jinan, China.
Written by Ed Hula III and Matthew Grayson.
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