Embassy Suites Concord Signed as Official Host Hotel for 2009 ITU Duathlon World Championships

(March 24, 2009) – Concord, NC – The Cabarrus County Tourism Authority announced today that the Embassy Suites Golf Resort and Spa in Concord has been named the official host hotel of the 2009 ITU Duathlon World Championships. The Duathlon is scheduled to be held in Concord September 24 through September 26, 2009. As the official host site, the Embassy Suites will also serve as the location of the regional expo and awards ceremony.

The 2009 ITU Duathlon World Championships will be the 20th edition of the championship event. Concord will mark just the fifth time the ITU Duathlon World Championships will visit an American city since 1990. In 2008, the World Championships were held in Remy, Italy. Duathlon consists of a 10-kilometer run, 40-kilometer bike and finishes with a 5-kilometer run. The event is the showcase for the elite in this sport. Previously announced, the 2010 World Championships will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Based on conservative industry estimates, the Duathlon is anticipated to generate nearly $1,000,000 in economic impact by the participants and their team members. It is anticipated that at a minimum, 850 participants from over 30 countries will attend and spend on average five days in Concord. The event is also anticipated to draw thousands of spectators. For more information about the event, visit www.duathlonworldsconcord.com.

About International Triathlon Union (ITU)
The International Triathlon Union is the world governing body for the Olympic sport of Triathlon and all related MultiSport disciplines: Duathlon, Aquathlon and Winter Triathlon. ITU was founded in 1989 at the first ITU Congress in Avignon, France and has maintained its -moreheadquarters in Vancouver, Canada since then. It now has over 120 affiliated National Federations around the world and is the youngest International Federation in the Olympics.

Triathlon was awarded Olympic status in 1994. ITU is proudly committed to supporting the development of the sport worldwide through strong relationships with continental and national federations, working with its partners to offer a balanced sport development program from grass roots to a high performance level. For more information, visit: www.triathlon.org