Footfalls in Beijing

The worlds best triathletes will return to the streets of Beijing three years after they last hit the Chinese capital in the 2008 Olympics, but this time with a Cook Islands athlete in the ranks.

Geoff Stoddard will compete in the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series grand final against athletes from all over the world, in all categories, in the purpose-built Olympic Games triathlon course.

Stoddard said he was excited to be running the course built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and stupefied by the facilities at the city.

What an amazing set up here for the world champs. The venue is just stunning as it starts to take shape even though the races are five days away yet, he said.

The Chinese dont do things by halves. Its a grand scale effort when you look at the concrete wall mural, the man made reservoir and dam behind for the swim part of the races plus the viewing towers and beautiful smooth roads for the cycle and run course.

Stoddard is not in Beijing just to compete in the triathlon, though.

As president of the Oceania Triathlon Union, Stoddard will also be attending the International Triathlon Unions annual congress.

The congress is held in the same week as the ITU grand final each year. Last year the grand final was held at Budapest, Hungary and next year it is a little closer to home in Auckland, New Zealand.

Stoddard makes up one of just two people from the Oceania region which includes New Zealand and Australia within its boarders on the ITU board. The other is New Zealander Terry Sheldrake.