2012 ITU World Championship Series Grand Final
Auckland, New Zealand to host October 18-22.
The ITU announced that Auckland, New Zealand will host the 2012 ITU World Championship Series Grand Final. Auckland was awarded the bid over cities from Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
The Grand Final will be the final race to decide the 2012 ITU World Champions, and will double as the 2012 ITU Age-Group World Championship. It is set occur from October 18-22, 2012 at Queens Wharf in the heart of Auckland. Triathlon is one of the fastest growing sports in New Zealand and is home to many of the world’s greatest triathletes, including 2004 Olympic gold medallist Hamish Carter and two-time Olympic medallist Bevan Docherty.
“New Zealand is a very passionate triathlon country,” Docherty said. “We have a very strong history – with Hamish (Carter) winning gold and with my two Olympic medals – it is a fairly well recognised sport already.”
Fellow Kiwi Andrea Hewitt, who finished last season ranked third in the world, echoed Docherty’s comments.
“To have the 2012 World Championship Grand Final in Auckland will be amazing, not only for us as competitors, but for the spectators and public as well. Everyone loves triathlon in New Zealand, so it will be great to host the best race of the season in front of an appreciative home crowd.”
This year’s Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series Grand Final will take place in Budapest, Hungary on September 8-12, with the 2011 Grand Final set to take place in Beijing.
