The International Triathlon (ITU) today announced that the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Yokohama will not take place on 14 May 2011 as originally scheduled.  The ITU is working with the Local Organising Committee (LOC), the City of Yokohama and the Japanese Triathlon Union (JTU) to find a suitable date for the event later in the 2011 schedule.

“We have been following the situation in Japan very closely and felt that once the Japanese Government raised the alert on the nuclear situation to the highest level of seven, it was too risky to stage an event there in May.  The safety and health of our athletes, coaches, officials and staff should not be compromised,” said Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member.  “We are in discussions to re-schedule it later in the season.  Our thoughts and concerns are with the Japanese people as they recover from the devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant situation.”

The 2011 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series kicked off on April 11 in Sydney, Australia.  Canada’s Paula Findlay took the women’s title while Spain’s Javier Gomez won the men’s race.  The next stop of the series will be in Madrid, Spain on June 4-5.