Olympic Qualification Process Explained

With the 2012 London Olympics on the horizon, it’s getting closer and closer to the time when each National Olympic Committee (NOC) must announce who they will send to compete in the triathlon. There is a total of 55 spots for both men’s and women’s events. The number of athletes that each country is allowed to send depends on the performance of its athletes based their. The countries ranked top 8 in the world are allowed to send 3 athletes to the games. Countries ranked below top 8 in the world may only send a maximum of two athletes. The home country is always granted one female and one male spot.

This chart indicates important dates with regard to the team qualification process.

Date	Mile Stone
1 June 2010 – 31 May 2012	Period of Olympic Qualification
1 May 2011 – 30 April 2012	Period for ITU Continental Olympic Qualification Events Locations:
6 – 7 August 2011	2011 ITU World Olympic Qualification Event Location: London, GBR Aug. 6 - 7
1 November 2011	IOC will contact all NOCs who are eligible to apply for Tripartite Commission Invitation Places
16 January 2012	Deadline for NOCs to submit their requests for Tripartite Invitation Commission Places
1 May – 9 July 2012	The Tripartite Commission will confirm, in writing, the allocation of Invitation Places to NOCs.
8 June 2012	ITU to inform NOCs of qualification places
22 June 2012	ITU to confirm final allocation of qualification places
2 July 2012	ITU to confirm final allocation of qualification places
9 July 2012	Deadline for London 2012 Organizing Committee to receive entry forms

While world rankings decide how many athletes are allowed to attend the games from each country, they are not the deciding factor with regard to team selection. The National Federation for each country determines their own criteria for their athletes to meet in order to qualify for the games.  For example, Canadian and French federations require their athletes to come top eight overall in a predetermined race to be automatically qualified for the Olympic games; top nine in the U.S.A; and top ten in New Zealand. Australian athletes have it tough, as they must win to be guaranteed selection to the Olympic triathlon in London.

Triathlon.org compiled lists of the winners of these important qualifying events to date:

Men’s - http://www.triathlon.org/files/events/rankings/olympic-simulation-men-2012.pdf

Women’s - http://www.triathlon.org/files/events/rankings/olympic-simulation-women-2012.pdf