SINGAPORE: International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge on Thursday hailed the first high-profile running of a triathlon with mixed gender teams as a big success.
The Singapore Youth Olympics is the first global multisport competition to feature the format and Rogge was on hand to witness it.
But he would not be drawn on its chances of being included in future Olympic Games.
"I think it was exciting," he said of the race won by Europe 1, in an event where two men and two women in teams representing each continent completed a 250-metre open-water swim, a seven-kilometer cycle ride and 1.7-kilometre run.
"Well organized, beautiful setting and the athletes loved it. That’s the most important thing. The athletes all had smiles on their faces."
The Youth Olympics feature athletes aged 14 to 18 competing in the traditional 26 Olympic sports, but with a twist.
Some sports have been adapted to appeal to a younger audience, including the triathlon, and Rogge has previously suggested that if successful, the changes could be included in future, full-blown Olympics as early as Rio in 2016.
But he was cagey on Thursday.
"This is something we will have to discuss. We’re going to analyze everything first," he told reporters.
"It’s an exciting event — whether it will come to the traditional Games is another question."
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) see the Singapore experiment as an important stepping stone in its attempt to have it incorporated into the summer Olympics.
"We had a lot of IOC members on the stand and I think all of them were really happy with the result," said ITU president Marisol Casado.
"I already talked with the (IOC) president and the sports director and I think we are in a good way."
