The International Triathlon Union Executive Board met in Rotterdam ©ITU

International Triathlon Union (ITU) President Marisol Casado said she was "really satisfied" after the governing body's Executive Board held three days of meetings in Dutch city Rotterdam.

Discussions centered on key proposals set to be ratified at the organisation's Congress tomorrow. 

The main topic was the ITU's strategic plan for 2018 to 2021, which will guide the principles of the organisation during the next four years.

This will be presented to Congress tomorrow after the Executive Board drew up an action plan which aims to "ensure the growth of triathlon worldwide and to ensure the standards of excellence of the ITU". 

A new competition structure was also discussed, as well as the current status of cities wishing to host World Triathlon Series or World Cup events.

The competition calendar will be announced at Congress, with the Tokyo 2020 qualification system also needing to be finalised.

The latter will include both the men's and women's event and the mixed team relay, which the ITU successfully added to the programme in the Japanese capital.

Executive Board members also approved the 2018 budget for Congress approval.

Mixed relay triathlon will debut on the Olympic stage at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images
Mixed relay triathlon will debut on the Olympic stage at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

"I am really satisfied of the intense work we have done, especially on defining the direction of our organisation for the next four years," said Casado, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member who is now in Peru's capital Lima for the ongoing IOC Session.

"I feel really confident that with the work that we have been doing during last year, and the commitment from all the Board members, we will continue to push our organisation even further. 

"We do have more presence and impact now on the Olympics, with the mixed relays being part of the Olympic programme now is time to focus on the goals for the next four years."

The ITU also used the meeting to remember former President Les McDonald, who died last week at the age of 84.

Board member Debra Alexander was congratulated after being elected as member at large of the International Paralympic Committee Executive Board.

After tomorrow's Congress, sporting issues will take centre stage in Rotterdam with the ITU World Championships Grand Final beginning on Friday (September 15).

insidethegames has asked the ITU if Casado will be returning to Rotterdam from Lima in time for the Congress.