In the days after the Final of the 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series, the locations of the Finals of the 2024 and 2025 seasons should be announced by World Triathlon. For those wondering (or those that have never wondered) how the Finals are chosen, this article will shed some light on the process.
World Triathlon produces a bid document for both its WTCS and World Cup races and produces a separate document for the selection of the Finals.
In the document, World Triathlon states that:
“The World Triathlon Championships Finals creates an instant economic impact by bringing in a significant number of international tourists to the Host City, consisting of over 5,000 competitors, support teams, officials, family and friends. With the addition of local races, the number of competitors can exceed 10,000.”
It also advises potential host cities to expect millions of viewers of the event from around the world.
In order to take advantage of the economic benefits of hosting the Finals, host cities have to meet certain conditions.
In total the host city will be expected to pay upwards of $1,000,000 (USD) to host the event. These costs cover:
- The Sanction fee for the World Triathlon Championship Finals of $410,000.
- The $340,000 prize money for the elite athletes.
- The $250,000 for live tv production for elite races.
- The $16,000 for 50% of the TV graphics.
- A travel grant of $300 for 130 elite athletes.
Also in connection with the travel, the host city is expected to provide transportation to and from the closest international airport for elite athletes and support teams.
It is also expected to provide transportation to and from the closest international airport for World Triathlon Executive Board Members, Congress Delegates, World Triathlon/series staff, Guests and Technical Officials and to accommodation for World Triathlon Executive Board Members and Guests, World Triathlon/series staff and Technical Officials as per the LOC Requirements, walking distance from the venue.
World Triathlon will retain a central production company across the Series.
The World Championships include the following races:
- World Triathlon Championship Finals for Elite athletes;
- Under-23 World Championships;
- Para triathlon World Championships;
- Age-Group Standard-Distance World Championships;
- Age-Group Super Sprint-Distance World Championships;
- Age-Group Standard-Distance Aquabike World Championships.
Perhaps most importantly, the Local Organising Committee is required to host an Opening Ceremony (including a “Pasta Party”) and one Closing/Award Function.
Bids opened in April 2022 and the successful cities should be announced at the end of November 2022.
An interesting question to pose is how this compares with other sports.
Triathlon is a fairly unique sport when it comes to its centrepiece Final. Equivalent events in athletics and swimming, with their World Championships, often require significant infrastructure and logistical investments and have costs that dramatically exceed the World Triathlon Championship Finals. Given the number of spectators, tickets sold, and broadcasting rights involved for those sports, though, they also bring in a lot more money than a Grand Final does.
The most appropriate comparison to make looks to be the World Cross Country Championships. For reference, you can see the bidding document for that here.
As per World Athletics, the “indicative Event Budget for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships is between USD $1,750,000 – $2,250,000, but it will vary according to local costs and conditions.”
Hosting the World Triathlon Championships Finals is therefore cheaper than hosting the World Cross Country Championships, although World Athletics notes there “are no hosting fees, but there are mandatory costs payable by hosts to World Athletics relating to various services provided such as Accreditation, Event Presentation, the Host Broadcaster and Results Management Services.”
There is a difficult balance for World Triathlon to strike. If they charge host cities too much or make too many demands of them, then interest from potential cities will dwindle. However, at the same time there is a risk of under-selling the sport.
Olympic distance triathlon is a global sport with a worldwide reach. Maybe the World Triathlon Championship Finals should be marketed on a slighter higher plane than the World Cross Country Championships, but it is a fine line to tread.
For those with any interest in how the hosting process works, you can compare the bidding for World Cup and WTCS events (excluding the Final) here and here.
