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Today, Catriona Morrison, 2009 ETU Duathlon European Champion and 2006 ITU Duathlon World Champion, marked the final countdown to The 2010 GE Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships, the highest-level competition in the sport’s annual calendar and the most prestigious duathlon competition ever staged in the UK.

Up to 1,000 of the world’s best Elite and Age Group competitors will descend on Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park from September 3rd to 5th to compete for six World Championship titles, 27 Age Group gold medals and a total prize fund of 75,000 Euro (for the Elite competition).

Chair of the Local Organising Committee and Director at British Triathlon, Tom Chambers said: “The 2010 GE Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships is set to be a great event. The extra support of GE, the iconic setting of the Scottish Capital and one of the largest GE GB Age Group Teams will make the event an exciting exhibition of our modern and dynamic sport.”

British Triathlon also announced that GE, one of the worldwide sponsors of the London 2012 Olympic Games, is the title sponsor of the 2010 GE Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships.  This event sponsorship is part of a much larger package that will see GE becoming Partner of British Triathlon Great Britain teams, providing support and expertise for the athletes as they prepare and compete at the highest levels in the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games.

Mark Elborne, President & CEO, GE UK, commented: ”As a major Scottish employer with over 2,000 people in Scotland, GE is delighted to be supporting the Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships. This is as part of our ongoing partnership with British Triathlon on the lead up to London 2012 which will see us provide state-of-the-art medical imaging equipment for the early diagnosis and treatment of sporting injuries to make a real impact on Team GB’s gold medal prospects. We wish the British Duathlon team the best of luck for the race – they can rely on GE’s support - as well as the cheers of our 18,000 UK employees.”

Scotland’s Catriona Morrison, from Broxburn near Edinburgh, who recently declared her intention to compete for the World title in her home town, said: “With just three months to go before the 2010 GE Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships arrive in the Scottish Capital, as a local athlete I am both proud and excited to be part of such a prestigious event. The course is exciting and challenging and will be a real test of fitness and determination for both the Elite and Age Group athletes alike. The 2007 European Duathlon Championships in Edinburgh were a great success and with the support of GE, the 2010 GE Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships will be even better! Edinburgh is a beautiful city and it will be a real honour to race in such a fantastic location.”

The Edinburgh course is expected to be one of the most challenging ever used for an ITU Duathlon World Championships as athletes contend with the tough climbs of a multiple lap circuit around Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat.  It will showcase the city of Edinburgh and Scotland as the perfect destination for the world’s biggest and best sporting events.

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, the national events agency, said:  “With three months to go until the ITU Duathlon World Championships, Edinburgh is gearing up to welcome some of the best multi-discipline athletes in the world.  The Championships will utilise the city’s iconic Holyrood Park and the sensational backdrop of Arthur’s Seat which will ensure broadcast footage looks spectacular and competitors and spectators are given a unique experience.  Hosting world championships like this one allows Scotland to showcase not only its scenery and landscape but also its home grown athletic talent and this year Catriona Morrison will be just one of the Scots contesting for glory against a world class field and raising the profile of Scottish athletes around the world.”

The 2010 GE Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships offers the perfect opportunity for Edinburgh residents, visitors to the city and running, cycling and multisport enthusiasts to watch the best duathletes in the world do battle as they demonstrate their incredible levels of endurance and tactical ability.

Councillor Steve Cardownie, Festivals & Events Champion for the City of Edinburgh, said: “Having hosted what were acclaimed in 2003 as the best-ever European Cross Country Championships, followed by a successful Duathlon European Championships in 2007 and the fantastic World Cross Country Championships in 2008, we are better placed than anywhere else to deliver this type of major sporting event.


“Welcoming the GE Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships to the city centre in September will be a welcome boost to the economy and will put a display of elite sport on show. I look forward to welcoming competitors, officials and spectators from all over the world.


“I wish Catriona Morrison and the other Scots athletes the very best of luck for the championships.”

For more information on the 2010 Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships go to - www.edinburghduathlon2010.com and follow the event on twitter at www.twitter.com/worldduathlon