Europe Triathlon

This weekend, Geneva has come alive with swim, bike, run fever.

The venue is built.

The systems are all working.

While the LOC have been furiously working away to ensure that everything goes like clock-work (well, it is Switzerland) the Technical Officials have had many briefings to ensure that they are all prepared and they have checked in the 800+ bikes. 800+, that's for just one race. The LOC is anticipating over 2,000 athletes will compete for medals and a further 500 will participate in the Open Race

The Age Group Sprint athletes have racked their bikes.

The Parade of Nations has made its way along the closed roads close to the swim start.

The Alpine horns have welcomed everyone to the Opening Ceremony and ETU President, Renato Bertrandi has declared the ETU Geneva European Championships, 2015, open.

Meanwhile, tucked away in a seminar room in the Kempinski Hotel, the Presidents and Representatives from the National Federations that make up ETU have worked their way through the Annual Congress.

With addresses from Patrick Schmid, President of the Swiss Triathlon Federation and from Marisol Casado, President of the ITU and IOC member, those attending were provided with a full and detailed account of the year's work as well as projections and plans for the future. A more detailed account will be provided later.

As is the tradition, both athletes and technical officials have sworn an oath to respect and abide by the rules in the true spirit of sportsmanship and to officiate in the Championships with complete impartiality.

A full weekend of racing will see medals presented to the Age Group Sprint athletes and ParaTri on Friday, to the Juniors and Elite on Saturday and to the Age Group Standard athletes and Elite Mixed Relay and Junior Mixed Relay on Sunday. If you are wondering about the ranking for the Elite Athletes then their allocation is based upon their performance at the 2014, Kitzbühel event (results are here)

For all the start lists, click here.

Do you want to see the race briefings for the athletes? Then click on the event website and see not only the briefings but also the athlete guides.

If you want to follow the athletes using the Datasport live tracker, then click here.