National Games inclusion key to continued growth in China

Triathlon in China will collapse unless it is included in the 2001 National Games, Hong Kong Triathlon Association (HKTA) officials warned yesterday.

Andrew Patrick, president of the HKTA, said the sport had to be included in major sports events to continue growing.

'I can't emphasise enough how important it is,' Patrick said at a press conference to announce details of tomorrow's Hong Kong International Triathlon at Plover Cove.

'We will be approaching the relevant bodies in China to point this out. Acceptance into major events is the key . . . triathlon could collapse in the mainland if this doesn't happen.' If triathlon does gain acceptance to the National Games, inclusion in the Asian Games - to be held in Pusan, South Korea, in 2002 - will be the next step, Patrick said.

'We're hoping that it will get in at Pusan, but at this stage we can't start lobbying for its inclusion until the Koreans set up an Asian Games organising committee,' added Patrick, who said he was confident the sport would win inclusion to China's National and the Asian Games.

'I can't really see any reason why there will be a problem. It's already being included in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, which will give it a big profile,' he said.