Reading this forum make me envy you immensely. Most of you live in countries where there are many triathlons and triathletes, or so it seems. But what would you do if you did not? For instance Norway. Or rather what would you do if you were in charge of the national triathlon organization in Norway and wanted to do something about the sorry state of the sport?
The population of 4.5 million is living in a rather big country, that is sparsely populated with a concentration in the southern part. You are head of the national triathlon organization, and you have a budget of, let us say, 75000$.
Triathlon is a microscopic sport and there is an almost non-existing elite (in international terms). The few you had has retired. There are no big triathlon clubs, and most triathletes is organized as groups within cycling clubs, swimming clubs.... Shall we say that the number of triathletes is 50? And in adition there is a small number of "triathlon interested" in their prime (35 years and older).
The sport does not appeal to the masses and the result (or is it the cause?) is that the race schedule for this year is two olympic distance triathlons in August. At the largest of these (in Oslo) aprox 80 will start at olympic distance, the same number at the shorter distances.
You could say that the weather conditions and water temperature in Norway is not very favorable for triathlon, and you would be right. But if you look toward Sweden and Denmark you would find that triathlon is a much bigger sport.
So what would you do to give the sport a better foundation in this country? It would be interesting to see how you think, compared to my own thoughts and what is done.
Bent Olav Olsen, recreational triathlete?
The population of 4.5 million is living in a rather big country, that is sparsely populated with a concentration in the southern part. You are head of the national triathlon organization, and you have a budget of, let us say, 75000$.
Triathlon is a microscopic sport and there is an almost non-existing elite (in international terms). The few you had has retired. There are no big triathlon clubs, and most triathletes is organized as groups within cycling clubs, swimming clubs.... Shall we say that the number of triathletes is 50? And in adition there is a small number of "triathlon interested" in their prime (35 years and older).
The sport does not appeal to the masses and the result (or is it the cause?) is that the race schedule for this year is two olympic distance triathlons in August. At the largest of these (in Oslo) aprox 80 will start at olympic distance, the same number at the shorter distances.
You could say that the weather conditions and water temperature in Norway is not very favorable for triathlon, and you would be right. But if you look toward Sweden and Denmark you would find that triathlon is a much bigger sport.
So what would you do to give the sport a better foundation in this country? It would be interesting to see how you think, compared to my own thoughts and what is done.
Bent Olav Olsen, recreational triathlete?