SI.com - Triathlon factbox for Athens 2004 - Monday July 12, 2004 9:31PM

ATHENS, July 13 (Reuters) -- Factbox on triathlon at the August 13-29 Athens Olympics:

HISTORY

The first triathlon was organised on September 25 1974 in Mission Bay, San Diego, California.

The International Triathlon Union (ITU) was founded in May 1989 in Avignon, France, and the town staged the first world championships in August of the same year.

Triathlon made its Olympic debut at the 2000 Games in Sydney where 500,000 spectators watched the event.

EVENTS

Men's and women's events in which the competitors must swim 1,500 metres in open water, cycle 40km and run 10km without a break.

2000 CHAMPIONS

Men: Simon Whitfield (Canada)

Women: Brigitte McMahon (Switzerland)

OLYMPIC PROGRAMME

August 25: Women's event

August 26: Men's event

VENUES

The triathlon will be held around Vouliagmeni in southern Athens. Swimming will be held off the beach of Oceanida, starting from a floating pontoon. Cycling will be staged between Vouliagmeni and Agia Marina and the running will be held over three laps of a 3.3-km course. Spectators will watch from 3,300 temporary seats.

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