The 2015 Arab Games will take place in Beirut, Lebanon, and the announcement that the new disciplines would be added was made at a ceremony in Doha, Qatar, where the 2011 Arab Games are currently taking place.

"ITU believes that our exciting sport has the potential to inspire youth and participation in active recreation worldwide, and, therefore, we are thrilled to have both triathlon and our new dynamic mixed relay format included in another major Games," said Marisol Casado (pictured above), the ITU President.

"We are particularly excited that triathlon has been included in the Arab Games, an area where triathlon's reach is growing.

"There have been athletes from Egypt, Oman, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Libya and more who have competed in ITU events in recent years.

"Morocco's Mehdi Essadiq is already one of the success stories.

"I hope that the inclusion of both triathlon and the thrilling team triathlon format can help inspire and encourage a new generation of Arab athletes to take up triathlon."

The UANOC secretary general Osmal El Saad said: "I am so glad to announce... that triathlon will be included in the next Arab Games in Lebanon 2015.

"We are really happy to have the sport added to the activities."

The incorporation of triathlon into the Arab Games follows its debut at the All Africa Games in 2011.

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