Baku 2015 hosts historic first ever triathlon

Baku 2015 held Azerbaijan’s first ever triathlon event on Saturday 2 May at Bilgah Beach, ahead of the inaugural European Games, which start on 12 June.

The competition, which featured 13 athletes, was held in association with the Azerbaijan Triathlon Federation, which was founded in 2013, just months after the European Games were awarded to Baku.

The feedback from participants and technical delegates from the European Triathlon Union (ETU) was positive. Jorge García, technical delegate from the ETU, said: "It was a great event. The venue is amazing and we had the opportunity to test everything well ahead of time. We are really looking forward to the competition during the Baku 2015 European Games."

Pierce O’Callaghan, Director of Sport at Baku 2015, added: "Triathlon is a young, but growing, sport in Azerbaijan and this event gave us the opportunity to test all areas of our operation ahead of the European Games.

"I’m delighted to say that everything went as planned, from the logistics and transitions to the transport arrangements and medical provision. Bilgah Beach provided a beautiful backdrop to the event and I’m sure the triathlon will prove to be one of the stand-out events of Baku 2015."

The triathlon competition at the Baku 2015 European Games will be held on 13 and 14 June at Bilgah Beach. A total of 130 athletes will take part, 65 men and 65 women, with the women’s event taking place on 13 June, following by the men’s event the next day. The winners of each event will receive an automatic place for their NOC to take part in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

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