Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Derby city centres will all be transformed into mini sporting arenas where everyone can be part of the triathlon action with an endless pool, treadmills and stationary bikes bringing the sport to life.

As well as taking part, spectators will be able to cheer on Britain's best triathletes, giving a flavour of what to expect during the London 2012 Olympic Games next summer, where there will be 21 screens around the UK.

Birmingham's Jodie Stimpson will be racing in the women's elite race on Saturday, giving fans the perfect opportunity to come together to cheer on local talent at the city's Victoria Square live site.

She and the rest of the British team have been set the target of achieving a podium finish in Hyde Park or at the Grand Final in Beijing next month to meet the British Triathlon Olympic selection criteria.

"Triathlon is a fantastic sport to watch, so I am excited that people in my home town have the opportunity to experience it live," said Stimpson.

"Hopefully lots of people will turn out to cheer me and the other British athletes on as we try to qualify for the Olympics."

Triathlon Live is a unique concept, organisers claim, and is the first of its kind to be trialled before an Olympic Games, acting as a pilot project to encourage active community participation in the Olympic sport of triathlon during the Games.

Each site will broadcast the BBC's coverage of the elite women's race from 12noon on Saturday and the elite men's race from 1pm, as well as having open activities from 10.30am each day.

UK Live Sites
Manchester, Exchange Square
Derby, Market Place
Birmingham, Victoria Square
Portsmouth, Guildhall Square
Plymouth, Armada Way
Cardiff, St David's Hall

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]