In a landmark move for the sport, World Triathlon has announced a deep partnership with the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), signalling a new era of commercial growth and Olympic ambition. The alliance aims to create a unified Triathlon World Tour from 2027, with the ultimate goal of adding the long-distance T100 event to the Olympic programme, potentially as soon as the Brisbane 2032 Games.
A New Era: The Triathlon World Tour from 2027
The partnership represents a significant consolidation within the sport. World Triathlon, the global governing body, is aligning with the commercially-driven PTO, which has rapidly grown its profile with backing from investors including British billionaire Sir Michael Moritz and Warner Bros Discovery.
From 2027, the sport's top-tier events will be unified under the Triathlon World Tour banner. Existing World Triathlon Championship Series races will be rebranded as T50 events, complementing the PTO's existing T100 series for longer distances. The PTO will take charge of selling the entire package, including a new Challenger feeder series, to global sponsors and broadcasters.
World Triathlon president Antonio Fernandez Arimany described the partnership as "a fundamental change" and "a new era." He emphasised that this deep collaboration with a private organiser is essential to commercialise triathlon on a global scale and present a consolidated product to television clients and sponsors.
Olympic Ambition: The Push for T100 in Brisbane 2032
The new, simplified branding of T50 and T100 events is strategically designed to strengthen the case for Olympic inclusion. Arimany has revealed that a core strategy is to get the T100 long-distance race onto the Olympic programme.
While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is currently refining its criteria for new events, Arimany is bullish about the prospects. He identified the Brisbane 2032 Olympics as a primary target, a bid bolstered by the fact that Queensland's Gold Coast is already set to host a T100 event.
"We will try to put the T100 event within the Olympic programme," stated Arimany. He stressed that the goal is not just to add another event, but to contribute significant value to the Olympic programme itself, creating a "win-win situation." The involvement of PTO partner nations like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, both potential future Games hosts, may also aid the long-term cause.
Major Return: World Triathlon Championship Series Comes Back to London
In a major boost for British fans, the sport will make a celebrated return to the capital. In its final season before the 2027 rebrand, the World Triathlon Championship Series will return to London in late July 2026 for the first time in 11 years.
The event will replace a T100 race on the calendar and is expected to become an annual fixture for T50 races thereafter. Arimany highlighted the UK's unique status as a powerhouse for the sport, home to stars like Alex Yee, Lucy Charles-Barclay, and newly-crowned T100 champion Kate Waugh.
"The popularity of triathlon in the UK is amazing," Arimany said, confirming that London is one of the sport's biggest markets. The immediate focus is to grow the London event, with the potential for further expansion in the future.
