ITU is now accepting applications from National Federations (NFs) for its 2011 Sport Development projects, including Team ITU and athlete and coach scholarships.  ITU is committed to developing the sport worldwide with programmes from a grass roots level to high performance.

Team ITU 2011
The goal of Team ITU is to provide support, resources and expertise to Elite athletes from developing National Federations to compete at a World Cup level.  At the same time it aims to increase the number of coaches from developing National Federations gaining experience in the preparation and support of athletes competing at a World Cup level.

Athletes receive airfare and accommodation, as well as access to a world class support team that includes a physiotherapist, bike mechanic and coaching.

Click here for more information on Team ITU including a full project outline, qualification criteria and timelines.

For 2011, Team ITU will compete in three World Cups, starting with the Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup in Australia on 26-27 March.  The application deadline is 15 February, 2011 and NFs may nominate up to two females and two males.  Click here to download the application form

Team ITU will also participate in the Edmonton ITU Triathlon World Cup in Canada on 10 July (application deadline 1 June).  The Auckland ITU Triathlon World Cup will be the third and final event for Team ITU in 2011.  It is set for 20 November (application deadline 1 October).

Last year members of Team ITU raced in three World Cups including Holten, Tiszaújváros and Huatulco.  Costa Rica’s Leonardo Chacon posted a season-best for the programme in Huatulco, finishing seventh.

Scholarship Projects
Another development project back for 2011 is athlete and coach scholarships.  The main objectives are to increase the number of athletes and coaches—particularly female—from developing NFs at Continental and World Championships and ultimately the Olympic Games.

These scholarships afford recipients with the opportunity to advance their skills, with the long term objective of participation at an Olympic Games. Scholarship recipients receive funding plus an invitation to selected camps.

More information on scholarships, including qualification criteria, timelines and evaluation requirements is available here: Athlete Scholarships Coach Scholarships

The deadline for athlete and coach scholarships is March 1, 2011. 
Click here to download the application form for athlete scholarship
Click here to download the application form for coach scholarship

Last year, 10 athletes from nine developing NFs—plus one coach—were selected for the Scholarship programme.

Click here for more on ITU Sport Development