By Duncan Mackay

Jonathan Brownlee v Javier Gomez Auckland 2012January 29 - Edmonton has been chosen to host the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships Grand Final next year, it has been announced. 


The event will mark the fourth time Canada has hosted the Grand Final, with Edmonton having organised the event in 2001, when the races were won by Australia's Peter Robertson and America's Siri Lindley when the World Championships were decided in a single race before the format was changed by the ITU to a series.

"Edmonton has been a staple city on the ITU calendar for many years," said ITU President Marisol Casado.

"Given their extensive experience organising ITU events, we have no doubt they will host a world class event that continues to push the standards of excellence we have seen in our Grand Final events."

Edmonton was also the site of nine world cup events in the last 10 years and has welcomed Panamerican Triathlon Confederation junior races on four occasions, in addition to a stand-alone Paratriathlon race in 2012.

"We are very committed to bringing sporting events to Edmonton," said Jane Batty, the city's Deputy Mayor.

"We can provide a great atmosphere for the race, but what ITU triathlon provides to our community is ever greater."

In addition to crowning the 2014 ITU World Champions, the event will also name world champions in junior and under-23 categories, as well as Paratriathlon, which is due to make its debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. 

After record-high numbers of age-group triathletes descended on Auckland in 2012, thousands of athletes from around the world are expected to travel to Edmonton.

The ITU Triathlon World Championships were first held in Avignon, France, in 1989, when the winners were America's Mark Allen and New Zealand's Erin Baker. 

Mark Allen at Avignon 1989American Mark Allen claimed the first ever World Triathlon Championships title at Avignon in 1989

In 2009, the Championships were revamped, expanding the former single-day World Championship race into a multi-city global series, culminating with the ITU Triathlon World Championship Grand Final.

Athletes earn points throughout the season and those who win the overall series are crowned the ITU Triathlon World Champions.

At Auckland last year Britain's Jonathan Brownlee and Sweden's Lisa Norden triumphed after accumulating more points in the Series than their rivals. 

The 2013 ITU World Championships are due be held at the Grand Final in London between September 11 and 15 where age-group athletes will get the opportunity to participate on much the same course as the 2012 London Olympics in Hyde Park.

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