The International Triathlon Union (ITU) recently completed its final site visit before the rapidly approaching London 2012 Olympic Games. ITU Technical Delegates for London, Thanos Nikopoulos, ITU Senior Manager - Technical Operations and Leslie Buchanan, ITU Anti-doping Director, were welcomed by John Lunt, Triathlon Competition Manager and a number of key London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) members.

Andrew Taylor, Triathlon Technical Operations Manager and Robert Puestow, Triathlon Field of Play Manager along with Jasmine Flatters, Triathlon Services Manager and Anna Price, Training Venue Manager were all on hand to discuss the final details of the upcoming two day competition in London.

Nikopoulos and Buchanan took the opportunity to finalise all sport aspects with Lunt as well as meet with the other functional areas including venue operations, overlay, photo operations and look.

As the final site visit before the Games, Nikopoulos and Buchanan were pleased with the high level of cooperation between ITU and LOCOG and are confident of a spectacular and successful triathlon competition this summer.

“We are really pleased with the excellent level of preparation by the LOCOG triathlon competition management and operational areas,” said Buchanan. “During this last visit we were able to agree upon the final issues and are very much looking forward to an outstanding triathlon competition in London and welcoming the triathlon family with exceptional facilities and services.”

Triathlon at the London 2012 Olympic Games takes place in Hyde Park in central London. Competition begins with a 1.5km swim in the Serpentine before the bike leg leads past several major London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner and Constitution Hill and back into Hyde Park, where athletes complete the run. The elite women’s race will take place at 9:00am on 4 August, with the elite men competing at 11:30am on 7 August.

Click here for the ITU Olympic website