World Triathlon held its annual staff meeting in Marrakech, a four-day gathering led by its president, Antonio Arimany, that set the strategic priorities for the next cycle. Hosted by Elkhalil Binebine at his residence in the Moroccan city, the meeting was framed as a turning point to align the entire organisation around its objectives for 2026 and the roadmap leading to the launch of the Triathlon World Tour in 2027.
The meeting had a strong operational focus. Beyond annual planning, the objective was to ensure that every area of the federation shares a common vision on sustainable growth, internal structure and the global presence of triathlon. At the centre of the discussions was the agreement with the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), conceived as the backbone of a new phase for international triathlon.
Laying the foundations for change
During the working sessions, particular emphasis was placed on clarifying how 2026 and 2027 fit within the broader strategic cycle. The federation defined 2026 as a transition year designed to lay the foundations for change, with close attention to performance targets, development priorities and commercial ambitions. The central idea was to equip the organisation with clearer processes and a structure capable of responding more swiftly to an expanding calendar and ecosystem.
In this context, Antonio Arimany stressed the need for internal transformation to deliver the strategy approved by the Executive Board. “We need to evolve our mentality and our ways of working to be aligned with the new leadership and the strategies that have been approved,” he said, expressing confidence in a team expected to strengthen the resilience and long-term future of triathlon at global level.
The Triathlon World Tour at the heart of the new cycle
The partnership with the PTO and the development of the Triathlon World Tour dominated much of the debate. The project, scheduled to launch in 2027, was analysed as an integrative platform that must coexist with existing World Triathlon properties. In that context, 2026 will be used to test formats, refine governance processes and optimise the calendar, ensuring that the new circuit is introduced with a solid and coherent structure.
Federation leadership worked closely with the newly appointed Secretary General, Jon Wyatt, on key areas such as harmonised rankings, qualification pathways and athlete-centred decision-making. The approach aims to build a unified commercial narrative that benefits World Triathlon, the PTO and the wider triathlon ecosystem.
New ways to connect triathlon with broader audiences
The meeting also examined the role of innovation as a driver of growth. Opportunities were explored in competition formats, data usage and fan engagement, as well as in telling the story of the sport through new audiovisual and digital approaches. The federation views these elements as essential tools to expand audiences and strengthen triathlon’s connection with fans beyond the strictly competitive environment.
At the same time, there was a renewed commitment to deepen collaboration with private organisers. Open dialogue around the continued development of the partnership with HYROX, the ongoing work with Swimrun, and the interest of other promoters in closer cooperation with World Triathlon reflects a strategy aimed at widening the sport’s reach across different levels of participation. A new internal structure built around cross-functional leadership, combined with the diversity of a team representing 15 nationalities, completes the framework from which the federation intends to shape the next phase of its development.
