The International Triathlon Union has released its full calendar for 2016, including dates for the World Triathlon Series, the full paratriathlon schedule, all multisport World Championships, the World Cup circuit, as well as Continental Cups and Championship events.

While the World Triathlon Series and World Cup calendars were announced earlier in the year, one additional event has been added to the schedule of World Cups with Cagliari, Italy to be contested on May 7 and 8.

In addition to the seven World Paratriathlon Events, a stand-alone Paratriathlon World Championships and five Continental Championships will also be held in this historically important year for paratriathlon, during which the sport will debut at the Paralympics.

All five Paratriathlon Continental Championships and the World Paratriathlon Events will play a major role in qualification for Rio. ITU will also offer classification opportunities at various paratriathlon races, which will be communicated shortly.

“Next year is very important for ITU, as our athletes turn their attention towards Rio in hopes of making their Olympic dreams come true,” Marisol Casado, the ITU president, said. “This calendar of events will offer athletes the opportunity to realise those dreams, as well as grow the sport around the world.”

All Continental Confederation calendars have been completed with the inclusion of 55 Continental Cups, which is more than ever in an Olympic year. There are first-time locations on every continent, ensuring triathlon reaches new territories.

Olympic points and quota spots will be on the line at the Continental Championships in Gisborne, New Zealand; Buffalo City, South Africa; and Hatsukaichi, Japan. While Olympic qualification points have already been allocated for Europe and the Americas, their Continental Championship races will be held in Lisbon, Portugal and Buenos Aires, Argentina, respectively.

As the initiative to grow the sport of triathlon in the winter months continues, the ITU has added the Quebec ITU S3 Winter Triathlon World Cup to its 2016 calendar, along with several Winter Triathlon events that will offer the traditional format.

The event in Quebec, which will be held on February 19 to 21, will be a three-day-long celebration where age groupers, paratriathletes and elites will all have a chance to compete in the snow and ice with a race format that includes snowshoeing, speedskating and skiing.

This race comes in addition to the traditional Winter Triathlon World Championships format of running, biking and cross-country skiing to be held in Austria, from February 12 to 14.

• The full calendar can be downloaded from by clicking on the link under ‘Related Media’.