Erica Hawley IslandStats.com The International Triathlon Union (ITU) reviewed the proposal for Mixed Relay’s inclusion on the programme for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games as part of its Executive Board meeting in Seoul.
If approved Bermuda will possibly be able to field a very, very strong team, with the likes of current Male and Female Athletes of the Year Tyler Butterfield and Flora Duffy as well as Erica Hawley and Tyler Smith.
ITU President Marisol Casado exclusively told insidethegames last July that Mixed Relay has "all the ingredients" to be added to the Tokyo 2020 programme.
Documents have been sent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make a formal bid proposal, which the ITU says "emphasises the great asset that mixed relay is, not only to our sport, but to the Olympic Movement and gender balance in sport".
The ITU had initially hoped the event, which sees two women and two men on each team compete in a "super-sprint" triathlon format before tagging their next team-mate, could be included on the programme for Rio 2016.
Last month, German city Hamburg was awarded this year's ITU Mixed Relay World Championships, which are due to be held from July 15th to 16th.
Executive Board members at the two days of meetings in South Korea’s capital also received an update on the venue, programme and calendar planned for Tokyo 2020, as well as the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.
Among the decisions taken was that to launch the bidding process for cities interested in hosting the 2018 World Triathlon Series and World Cup events.
Following the imminent release of the bidding document, cities will be encouraged to send their proposals for next year’s calendar.
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