Abu Dhabi: For Marisol Casado, president of International Triathlon Union, the maiden World Series event in Abu Dhabi is the fruition of a long-cherished dream.
Casado clearly couldn’t hide her emotions and was beaming with excitement on the eve of the event. Speaking to Gulf News, Casado said: “Yes, it took us around seven years to get this world class event to Abu Dhabi. I was very clear from the beginning that ITU World Triathlon series has to come to the Middle East,” she said.
“I also understood that it was a region where people want to show that top sporting event is possible, if things can be worked out keeping the season in mind. Then, we were working very closely with Abu Dhabi Sports Council and a dedicated group of people with the will to try and be the best,” said Casado, who added that things weren’t that easy at the beginning as the sport, despite making it to the Olympics, was still in an infant stage.
“We knocked the doors of different places as you see our sport is still very young and people don’t understand that it is a top-class sport. At this moment, we are in 160 countries and during the Olympic Games we are one of the most toughest sports in reality. However, starts like these will keep the sport moving in the right direction,” asserted Casado,
The ITU president was also elated with the response received for the inaugural event here at the capital.
“It was very important to start off on a high and we got the best of athletes here to compete and that’s a huge boost,” said Casado.
“You have to understand that the elite athletes are coming because they have learnt that it is a great place to start off their season. Mind you, to take part here is not mandatory but they have some points up there for the Olympic Games and that must have kept many interested,” says Casado, adding that the event’s biggest plus was the response received from all age groups.
“Interesting is the number of different age groupers who want to camp here. They are also coming here as tourists and that I think is very good for this city and the UAE as a whole,” felt Casado, who also was of the view that the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon, which is being held here for the past five years, was the stepping stone towards this surge.
“Abu Dhabi International Triathlon set the benchmark and that was a huge help. You have to understand, it is an event which is not held in a stadium. So we have to know what is the best place, where is the best water and many things. Which is the place from where the spectators can get the best view of the action and the traffic is not affected in the city and so on,” said Casado,
She added that they chose Abu Dhabi for the season opener keeping the harsh summers later on in the year.
“We chose this time for Abu Dhabi because the weather is excellent at this time of the year. However, what will be testing for the athletes will be the wind. I think most of the participants will be delighted to race in this weather. We also wanted to give something more to give more exposure to the sport,” said Casado, who is confident that the event would put Abu Dhabi on the map and inspire the youth in the region to take up sports.
“I’m very much sure that after this event, many youths from here will be inclined to take up the sport. It is also important to get the administration here convinced that it is a great sport. But I already feel their attitude towards this sport is very good. We will be always ready to work with them to develop the sport amongst the youth here and try and find top class athletes from here soon.”
So far, the Middle East has only one professional Arab athlete in Omar Nour and he seems to have certainly caught the eye of the president. Though she couldn’t recollect his name at the first instant she was quick to let know how much impact Nour’s qualification for the 2016 Rio Games could make.
“We already have an athlete from here trying to be there at the Games. If he could make it, the trend will be set and things will change drastically. Tomorrow you have over 2,000 people from here competing and there was an event for the kids and such things which will surely help us reap results in future.
