Abu Dhabi Prepares to Host Season Opening Race

Abu Dhabi Sports Council is once again hosting the season-opening event of the World Triathlon Championship Series 2024, running from 8-9 March 2024.

Following Abu Dhabi’s successful hosting of 2022’s Championship Finals, for the ninth year, the capital city will welcome the MENA region’s only WTC event, before the series heads to Yokohama, Japan; Cagliari, Italy; Hamburg, Germany; Montreal, Canada; culminating in the Championship Finals in Malaga, Spain.

Further cementing the emirate’s well-earned reputation as the region’s home to international sporting events, organisers confirmed that the prestigious World Triathlon Championship Series opening round will take place across the waterways, tracks and roads of Yas Marina Circuit, with competitors ending their race on the iconic F1 start line, right in front of the Main Grandstand.

The popular event village in the F1 Pit Lanes will return in 2024 and is open to the public on both Friday and Saturday. It features a range of family-friendly entertainments and amenities for spectators of all ages.

Expected to attract the world's best athletes who will be racing for precious Olympic or Paralympic qualifying points as they gear up to race in the Paris Games this summer, 270 elite and para elite triathletes will compete across four categories – the World Triathlon Championship Men’s and Women’s Sprint race, the Para World Cup and the Elite Mixed Team Relay.

Alongside the elite races, thousands of age group and junior triathletes, cyclists and runners will participate in the community races. Hailed as the largest and most inclusive triathlon event in the Middle East, the schedule boasts fifteen different community race categories catering to all ages, abilities and fitness levels, and includes dedicated races for athletes of determination. Exciting additions for the 2024 edition are community single discipline community running and cycling races, which offer runners and cyclists a chance to be part of this global triathlon event.

The event promises to be a fantastic two-day combination of elite competition and grassroots community participation. The full schedule of races can be viewed here.

His Excellency Aref Alawani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “We are excited to once again open the global World Triathlon Championship Series here in the capital in March. Kicking off the 2024 season, the hosting of this important event as elite athletes prepare for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games further reaffirms Abu Dhabi’s standing as a leading destination for major global and international sporting events.

“We also look forward to welcome our community athletes, who travel from across the region, back for more competition in March. This year’s addition of single discipline running and cycling events, alongside the triathlon events, makes this wonderful weekend more accessible than ever before. I encourage everyone to check out the race categories and see how they can get involved.”

Organisers also revealed the visually striking new 2024 WTC medal design. The unique 2024 medal incorporates the outline of the iconic Yas Marina Circuit F1 race track as well as the World Triathlon ‘globe' - three apex elements representing the nine points of dynamic balance that all triathletes share: Swim-Bike-Run; Mind-Body-Soul, and Earth-Air-Water. Check out the medal here.