ADIT’s opening swim leg takes place in the lagoon of the iconic Emirates Palace, one of the world’s most luxurious hotels. Competitors will then cycle past some of Abu Dhabi’s most iconic sights including the Emirates Palace, and along Abu Dhabi’s signature Corniche - all under the safety of completely closed roads.
The route will then go east of the city over Saadiyat Island, the 27 square kilometre natural island which is 500 metres offshore Abu Dhabi city, and on to the destination’s emerging entertainment hub of Yas Island - home to the highly successful 2009 Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – where they will compete on the same circuit as many of the world’s top race drivers.
The athletes will then run back to the Corniche through the Heritage Village to the west of the city. For further information on ADIT, please go to http://www.abudhabitriathlon.com/
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Since its launch in November 2009, regional and international interest in the event - which boasts a unique racing format to allow for quicker athlete recovery time - has continued to swell with ADIT attracting athletes from the four corners of the globe, from the USA, UK and Finland in the West to Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand in the East.
More than 75 of the world’s leading elites have signed up for the debut ADIT, making it one of the strongest expected line-ups of any major triathlon in 2010. Leading the charge will be Team Abu Dhabi Triathlon – the crack endurance squad backed by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).
 And more promising for the event’s organiser (ADTA), Middle East and North African (MENA) participation makes up nearly half of all competitors – a clear indication of the Arab world’s growing interest in performance athletics events.
To date, the ADIT has attracted more than 340 regionally-based athletes from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
"When we first launched ADIT, we said that we aimed to make this event a calendar highlight on the global triathlon circuit. I firmly believe that we have achieved that goal and have set the foundations to grow the emirate’s burgeoning credentials as a major performance events destination,” said Faisal Al Sheikh, Head - Major Events Division, ADTA.
“This event will set the benchmark for triathlon. With its unique competition distances, world-class field and carefully designed city route, we are extremely confident ADIT will earn ‘instant classic’ status  by Saturday evening. In addition, it will be an important platform for aspiring sportsmen and women of all ages to participate shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s top triathletes, something we hope will continue to inspire more uptake of the sport.
"We also believe it will go a long way in demonstrating the emirate’s pedigree as a preferred, safe winter training base, which can be enjoyed by both athletes and their families.”
Faris Al Sultan, captain of the seven-strong outfit and 2005 Ironman World Champion, believes the solid competitor line-up, in addition to the truly international amateur field, speaks volumes about the event’s and the destination’s global appeal.
“The ADIT will play a major role in developing the sport in the Middle East and will go a long way to encouraging more participation in triathlon at a grass roots level. This is something we have been working very closely on with ADTA, and we expect to see interest in both triathlon and the emirate as a leading winter training base, growing considerably,” said Al Sultan.
 "Looking at the elite field, this is going to be a fiercely contested event and we are likely to see some very impressive times. As a pure-power course, it will be very tight and athletes are going to have to push themselves to the limit, both physically and mentally, if they are to compete for top honours.”
Al Sultan is facing tough competition for the assembled male contingent with Sweden’s Bjorn Andersson, one of the world’s best long distance cyclists, feeling very confident ahead of Saturday’s event.
“As the start of ADIT is getting closer, my motivation for taking part in this new and exciting event is growing stronger day by day. Most of my training is completed and according to plan - now I can't wait to race,” said Andersson.
Phil Graves, the emerging UK Ironman champion, was also upbeat about the line-up. “I am very excited to race with so many world-class athletes in Abu Dhabi. Having looked at the start list, the race seems more like the Ironman World Championships, with the strength and depth of the field; it will make for one exciting and very tough race in one of the most scenic parts of the world. I can’t wait to get out there and seemingly take on the rest of the world!” said the Englishman.
A host of the world’s top female athletes are diving into this inaugural staging of the Abu Dhabi event.
 Hot favourite and current Ironman 70.3 and Xterra Triathlon World Champion and 70.3 distance world record holder, Great Britain’s Julie Dibens - widely regarded as one of the world’s fastest competitors - will be looking to add the ADIT to her long list of accolades.
"The organisers have secured an amazing women’s pro-field. With the unique format of the race and the super long bike leg, it really is anyone’s guess as to who will finish on the podium. This will make for a very exciting race for all the spectators. I am excited at the prospect of seeing if I can mix things up with some of the best long course women in the world,” said Dibens.
She will face stiff competition in the shape of more than 20 top female elites including the Netherlands’ Yvonne Van Vlerken, the 2008 Ironman World Championship runner up and past Ironman world record holder; Britain’s Leanda Cave, the past Olympic and long distance world champion; and American duo of Sam McGlone, previous Ironman 70.3 World Champion, and Hillary Biscay - who has notched up 10 top three Ironman finishes in the last two years.
The adrenaline-pumping ADIT boasts two unique lengths; a 223kms ‘pure power’ course, which marks the ex-Europe debut of a race of this length and discipline distance, and a second 111.5kms route, which can be run as a team relay event. Both distances are open to elites and amateurs and have been specially designed to take in a host of Abu Dhabi city landmarks.
One of the key draws of the ADIT format, with a finishing running leg shorter than typical Ironman events, is that it allows athletes to recover faster and compete more often – a factor which has been identified as crucial to international triathlon community success.
And whilst the action on the course will be intense, ADTA has taken major steps to ensure spectators enjoy the off-track entertainment as much as that taking place on Abu Dhabi’s streets.
Boasting a surfeit of activities, competitions, live entertainment and games, fans will be able to take part in the dedicated TriZone at the ADIT finish line on Abu Dhabi Corniche.
 Running from 8.00am throughout the day on March 13th, the TriZone gives would-be athletes the opportunity to test their skills on a number of activities such as the ‘Beat the Elite’ competition, where fans can see how they measure up against the world’s best; the Wii Zone, which offers a multitude of different sports to choose from as visitors record their best score on a large plasma screen; an interactive kids area and the Batak zone, where reactions are tested to win great prizes.
“We wanted to make this event something that the whole family can enjoy, whether they’re cheering on friends and family on the course, want to learn more about the sport, how to adopt a healthy lifestyle or just want to have a great day out,” added Al Sheikh.
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