Is it true that the 2005 elite champs are in japan with the 2005 age group champs in hawaii?http://www.transitiontimes.com/viewstory.cfm?ID=3820
Is this the first time ever or the first time in a long time?
First time. Since their inception in 1989, the world championship for age groups and elites have shared the same basic venue. In the first six races, everyone raced the same course on the same day under the same rules. Beginning with Cancun in 1995, however, the elites began racing in a separate race, under different rules (allowing drafting on the bike), usually on separate courses, and usually on separate days.
No one knows what to make of the separation in 2005. Ordinarily, the host city is out-of-pocket on the elite race, but makes some (or most) of it back on the age-groupers. For example, each of the 1,500 age groupers at the 2004 world in Madeira paid an entry fee of about $200 U.S. That’s $300,000 on the income side of the budget, compared to the elite races with 75 men and 75 women who received complimentary entries.
And that doesn’t count what the age groupers (whose size, when counting friends and loved ones, nearly doubles) spend in the host city. For example, Karen and I were in Madeira for six days, and ended up leaving behind $900 for hotel, $400± for food, $100 or so for taxis, and $100 or so more for stuff. That’s $1,500 for the two of us, and I would guess we would fall in the thrifty side of average. At a $1,000/person and 3000 total individuals, that means $3,000,000 got left in local coffers . . . not counting any portion of the airline flights in and out of the host city.
So, it’s tough to read the future from just what happens in 2005. The ITU may favor separating the two events (so they could make a rights fee from two events, rather than one), but the ordinary host city may not be all that thrilled with the idea. Only time will tell.
I think its a shame that every “world championship” is held at a location where many qualifiers cant even afford to get there.
I might be wrong, but from what I understand from talking with Les and others is that the ITU didn’t really want to seperate the events, but were forced to do so for logistical reasons of gamagori not being able to accomodate all the age groupers. I don’t know why they didn’t figure that out before awarding the event to gamagori however… probably signed some kind of contract with the LOC before realising the it wasn’t going to happen logistically… politics…
Joel
I think its a shame that every “world championship” is held at a location where many qualifiers cant even afford to get there.
“every” is a big word, and while I tend to agree with you to a certain degree, it is not entirely accurate. Duathlon Worlds were in Atlanta two years ago. If you are in the US, travel to Atlanta is pretty reasonable. Triathlon Worlds in Cancun two years ago is pretty reasonable for travel from the US. I’m not usually interested in going to Worlds partly because of the travel but I am interested in going to HI for Worlds, compared to travel to Europe or any other continent it would be more expensive than going to HI.
Mike,
Please check your email.
Justin (for Chris)
Broll…it seems like the solution then is to stage the World Championships in the United States every year…?..that seems fair…NOT.
My statement wasnt defending the rights of any one nationality to a cheap race. Simply stated, for something to be a world championship, for someone its gonna be expensive. And so long as its expensive, someone is staying home. And thats not a true world championship. I dont have a solution.