Triathlon Venue modified to meet Olympic standards

The fresh new track

(BEIJING, September 11) -- The 2007 Beijing BG Triathlon World Cup will be held at the Changping Triathlon Venue from September 15-16, 2007. The elite women's race will take place September 15, and the elite men's race will take place September 16.

The Beijing BG Triathlon World Cup is the 12th competition of the 16-competition International Triathlon Union's World Cup series. The competition in Beijing will use the same course and rules as the Beijing 2008 Olympic Triathlon event and is expected to attract more than 170 top athletes from over 30 countries and regions.

The World Cup, a Type B event, is second only to the Triathlon World Championships.

This is the third consecutive year that the Beijing BG Triathlon World Cup will be held at the venue. Following both the 2005 and 2006 World Cup races, a number of modifications to the Triathlon Venue have resulted in a competition venue suitable for the Triathlon event at next year's Olympic Games.

The start-off platform for the swimming discipline was relocated to the dock on the southwest side of the dam. The result is increased safety for the athletes and a better view for the spectators.

The swim route has also been modified from a 1.5-lap course to a one-lap course, with the total distance remaining the same.

For the bike course, a new 680-m stretch of the Dongsha River Road has been built on the edge of the Ming Tombs Reservoir.

The 2007 Beijing BG Triathlon World Cup will follow the same format as the Beijing 2008 Triathlon event and will, in addition, serve as a comprehensive trial for the courses, competition grounds, equipment, facilities, operations, etc.