Sydney, Seoul and Budapest have also been added to the series, joining the existing events in Madrid, London, Kitzbühel and Hamburg. 

 

Marisol Casado, the President of International Triathlon Union (ITU), said: "The series will be staged in three Olympic cities as well as some of the most important centres of the world.  

 

"This is a major step forward for our sport.”

 

A successful debut for the London event staged on the Olympic venue in Hyde Park in 2009 gave organisers and athletes a first taste of what can be expected at the Olympic Games in 2012.

 

This year's event will be held on July 24-25.

 

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: "This year's Triathlon World Championships, set against the magnificent backdrop that only London can offer, were a fabulous success.

 

"It is a challenging sport that makes for a thrilling event - both for the world-class athletes taking part and the spectators cheering them on.

 

"As we build up to the 2012 Games, London looks forward to welcoming this exciting event again in 2010 and in 2011."

 

London organisers hope they will deliver another exciting race as the home spectators will be able to support the newly crowned men’s world champion, Britain's Alistair Brownlee (pictured), who won this year's event.

 

Brownlee said: "Competing and winning in London was amazing. 

 

"It was a great opportunity to start to understand just what an Olympics in London will feel like. 

 

"It's great we will have the chance to race there again in 2010."

 

Paul Coleman, the managing director of the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championships Series, said: "Together with our strategic partners Sportfive and Upsolut, we are incredibly excited by the success of the new series after its launch in 2009 and are thrilled to be able to present a top quality calendar of showcase events for 2010."

 

The season will be kicked off in style on April 11 with the opening race on the steps of the renowned Sydney Opera House, mirroring the first Olympic Games triathlon in 2000.  

 

Nathan Rees, the Premier of New South Wales, said: "There is no better way to start the 2010 ITU World Championship than on the very course where the Olympic triathlon was born. 

 

"This major international event provides another opportunity to showcase Sydney - Australia's only global city - to the world. 

 

"And as the best ever Olympics spectacularly demonstrated 10 years ago, there is no better finish line in sport than the Sydney Opera House."  

 

Current women’s world champion Emma Moffat of Australia will now have an excellent opportunity to open the defence of her title on home soil.

 

Following Sydney the series moves north to an exciting new venue in central Seoul, the South Korean city which staged the 1988 Olympics, in early May. 

 

The Series then heads to Europe in June stopping in Madrid, Spain, who have just come off a strong 2016 Olympic bid, before the athletes enjoy a brief rest period leading into an intensive summer. 

 

July will see races in the spectacular venues of Hamburg, Germany and London, before the famous alpine ski resort of Kitzbühel, Austria hosts the penultimate event in August.

 

The Hungarian capital, Budapest, will host the 2010 Grand Final of the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championships Series where the world champions will be crowned. 

 

The event will be held on the weekend of the September 11 with the course encompassing the Danube and much of the city centre.  

 

The historic site will provide an exceptional backdrop to cap another exciting season. 

 

The under-23 and Junior World Championships will also take place in Budapest and the city will provide the stage for thousands of international triathletes to compete in the age-group and Paratriathlon ITU Triathlon World Championships.

 

An eighth event is also under review and if added to the series is likely to take place in May. 

 

To see the full calendar click here.

 

 

Related stories

September 2009: Sydney to rekindle memories of 2000 Olympics with World Championship series race

September 2009: Brownlee crowned world champion after stunning victory

August 2009: Brownlee back on top of the world after Hyde Park victory