RWANDA will host this year’s African Triathlon Cup on August 4 in Rubavu District.

While confirming the development to Sunday Sport on Friday, the president of Rwanda Triathlon Federation (RTF), Alexis Mbaraga revealed that the one-day continental event will attract participants from nine countries; six African and three from outside the continent.

"Almost everything is in place for the event, it is of great prestige to host the continental tournament as a country. We will have participants from nine nations, some from outside Africa, and no doubt we will stage a very successful competition,” Mbaraga said.

Triathlon is a race which combines swimming, biking and running, done by one athlete on one chrono time, or in a team of two men and two women alternatively.

The distance for the upcoming race is 750 metres of swimming, 20km of cycling and a 5-kilometre run. It is on the international Triathlon Union Calendar and athletes can accumulate points which qualify them for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

In addition to 15 athletes representing Rwanda, the 2018 African Triathlon Cup will also be contested by athletes from South Africa (5), Kenya (6), Zimbabwe (1), Namibia (1), Niger (2), Kingdom of Jordan (1), Mauritius (1), USA (1) and one Australian.

Triathlon was introduced in Rwanda in 2013.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw