ITU announces Olympic start numbers and transition area positions

(BEIJING, July 22) -- A draw conducted by Olympic technical delegates and a Beijing race referee has set the start numbers and transition area positions for the men's and women's triathlon at Beijing 2008. The draw took place in Kitzbuhel, Austria, where the final world cup before Beijing 2008 finished last weekend.

A total of 110 triathletes will participate in the triathlon at Beijing 2008. The pontoon draw for the swim leg has yet to be conducted because it relates to the ITU rankings, which have not been finalized.

The men's and women's draws were done separately. Athletes from the same nation will be next to each other in the transition area. Since no one was allotted the unlucky number 13, number 56 will the final start number (there will a total of 55 triathletes in both the men's and women's draws).

The 2008 Olympic women's triathlon race is scheduled for August 18, while the men's will be staged on the following day.

The race starting numbers and transition area positions of the 110 Olympic triathletes are available on the ITU's official website. (Click here for the men's Olympic start list, and click here for the women's)