Following are the factbox on triathlon at the August 8-24 Beijing Olympic Games:

History

The first triathlon was organized on Sept. 25, 1974, in Mission Bay, San Diego, California. It now consists of a 1500 meters open water swim, a 40km cycle ride and a 10km run.

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.

Olympic Qualfication

There will be 55 men and 55 women. Eight top-ranking countries allowed 3 athletes per event and the others will be allowed a maximum of 2.

Olympic Program

August 18 - women

August 19 - men

Venues

Ming Tomb reservoir in northern Beijing

2004 Champions

Men: Hamish Carter, New Zealand

Women: Kate Allen, Austria

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2008)