AKIPRESS.COM - Next week Abu Dhabi International Triathlon is marking its fifth anniversary. 2,400 triathletes from 68 countries will gather at Abu Dhabi Corniche on March 15 making it one of the world's 20 largest triathlons, UAEinteract reported.

The triathletes are arriving from Russia, Portugal, the Philippines, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, Finland, etc. This year the Abu Dhabi International Triathlon features first-time entries from Algeria, China, Ethiopia, Iceland, Norway, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine and Vietnam.

The Abu Dhabi International Triathlon will offer three different distances – Long, Short and Sprint Courses – for racers of all abilities. The short and sprint distances also offer the popular option of relay entry, allowing groups of colleagues, families and friends to tackle the event together.

The International Triathlon Union's (ITU) successful bid two years ago for the inclusion of triathlon in the Arab Games 2015 was a significant step for the sport in the Middle East, offering an additional opportunity to showcase the sport internationally and promote it as a gateway to active lifestyles.