The ITU have released the schedule for the 2016 World Para-triathlon Event series ©ITU

A schedule has been released for the 2016 World Para-triathlon Event series, which will begin in Buffalo City, South Africa on March 19.

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) have revealed how the events form part of the qualification process for the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where Para-triathlon will make its debut.

Following the opening competition in South Africa, Penrith in Australia will host the second Event from April 23 to 24, and it is hoped that this will be staged alongside the World Triathlon Series competition in Gold Coast.

The Japanese city of Yokohama will be the next stop on the calendar from May 14 to 15, with another World Para-triathlon leg due to be held in Aguilas, Spain on the same weekend.

The competition in Yokohama is due to be run at the same time as the ITU World Triathlon Series event.

Strathclyde, Britain will then host its first-ever World Para-triathlon Event on June 4 and 5, with Besancon, France also due to stage a leg on those dates.

The series will conclude in Iseo, Italy on June 25 and 26.

The 2016 World Para-triathlon Event series will give athletes the chance to earn vital qualification points for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
The 2016 World Para-triathlon Event series will give athletes the chance to earn vital qualification points for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games ©Getty Images

Every World Para-triathlon Event held before June 30 will provide the athletes with the chance to earn vital points in their attempts to be part of the sport's historic Paralympic debut.

Triathlon was added to the programme for Rio 2016 at the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board meeting in Guangzhou, China, ahead of the 10th Asian Para Games in December 2010.

The announcement of the World Para-triathlon Event calendar comes after the ITU awarded the 2016 Para-triathlon World Championships to Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Scheduled for July 23 and 24 next year, the competition will represent the first time Para-triathlon has had a stand-alone World Championships.



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