Athletes from developing and emerging countries have the opportunity to apply for funds to cover travel and coaching support, with the scheme in operation at four competitions this year.

In addition to the increase in the number of events, National Federations will now be able to nominate a coach who will be able to learn from a "world renowned" ITU head coach at each World Cup event.

The aim is to produce more triathletes who could potentially compete at World Cup level and qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

"We identified the need to increase opportunities for athletes to race at more World Cups, and therefore created joint projects on two continents where athletes will be able to take further advantage of the Team ITU resources," said ITU President and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Marisol Casado, who will run unopposed for a third four-year-term in charge on December 11.

"Not only is it vital for developing athletes to learn from the world’s best triathlon coaches, we want to make sure we educate coaches so that they can carry this education back to their own regions to develop athletes.

"In this manner we aren’t only developing one athlete for the next Olympic cycle, we are educating someone that can develop many athletes over a lifetime."

The Super Sprint World Cups in Chengdu in China between May 6 and 7, and Tiszaujvaros in Hungary between July 22 and 23, are both among the events where the support will be available.

Sprint World Cups in Tongyeong in South Korea and Argentinian capital Buenos Aires, between October 28 and 29 and November 4 and 5 respectively, will also operate the scheme.

In addition, three standard ITU World Cups will be part of the programme, starting in Spanish capital Madrid between May 27 and 28.

The next standard event will be in American city Salinas between October 28 and 29, with the scheme also available for the World Cup in Miyazaki in Japan between November 4 and 5 - the same dates as the Buenos Aires sprint event.