Super League Triathlon (SLT) and World Triathlon have today announced plans to team up and create an all-new Esports World Championship Series.
The series will build on the concept of virtual racing originally debuted in the Super League Triathlon Arena Games in 2020.
Triathlon saw a lot of changes during the pandemic and one of the biggest innovations was the invention of the SLT Arena Games, which involved a mix of real-life racing (pool swimming) and virtual Zwift racing (treadmill and turbo trainer).
The Arena Games were first hosted in Rotterdam, before moving across the Channel to the London Aquatics Centre. The games were streamed to fans across the world and were proclaimed a huge success, winning the Sports Industry Awards for Cutting Edge Events and the for Most Innovative Business Response to Covid-19.
The new Esports World Championship Series will replicate this virtual racing concept for a whole new series of races, helping the concept to become an officially recognised triathlon discipline, complete with Esport world champions.
This new series aligns with the International Olympic Committee’s desire to encourage the growth of virtual sports participation observed across the world in recent years, largely due to the pandemic.
!["Elite]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/34/2021/11/20210418_SLT_Arena_Rotterdam_Mens_X1TB1719-931b68d.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"20210418_SLT_Arena_Rotterdam_Mens_X1TB1719\"")
The racing concept will be further developed from past Arena Games, again using a mix of real-life and virtual racing platforms, along with ‘cutting edge technologies, audio-visual content and incredible race scenarios’ to stimulate a challenging and immersive race experience for both competitors and spectators.
World Triathlon and SLT say that the series will continue to represent gender equality, clean sport and fair competition.
Marisol Casado, World Triathlon President, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this partnership. Both organisations have been working hard and investing significant resources to evolve our sport, growing audiences, and giving the athletes the best stages on which to perform at their best.”
Super League Triathlon CEO Michael D’hulst said: “This is a very exciting day for the sport. By partnering together, Super League Triathlon and World Triathlon are taking the next step in what has already been a very steep growth curve for the Arena Games. With this partnership, the sky’s the limit. This could well be the next Olympic triathlon discipline.”
Find out more about the new Esports series from World Triathlon and Super League Triathlon.
Top image credit: Super League Triathlon