NEWS

ITU creates innovative data platform

By Erin Greene | 08 Jul, 2016

The International Triathlon Union is pleased to announce a new innovative data platform that will allow external users to create feature-rich applications, as well as providing additional services to National Federations and partners.

“ITU’s Triathlon API will complement the recently-announced development of the IOC’s Olympic Data Project,” said ITU President and IOC Member Marisol Casado. “As a young International Federation, we are committed to evolving sport, and that also means leading in technological innovation.”

While several sports rely on costly outside companies to produce and distribute sport-related data, ITU has created the Triathlon API internally with the vision to distribute it freely to any external stakeholder. Media, broadcast partners, sponsors, National Federations and triathlon enthusiasts anywhere will be able to access the API to create unique mobile applications and distinctive programs for their own specific needs.

The API exposes all resources that are available on Triathlon.org and provides additional benefits such as pre-computed statistics and streaming live timing data. Several National Federations participated in the development of the API platform, and have already commenced or completed projects that would have been largely infeasible prior to the advent of the API.

For example, USA Triathlon used the Triathlon API in conjunction with an external service provider to create an enhanced race results viewer, customizable ranking lists, and an Olympic Qualifying Projection tool.

“This has been a valuable utility for us to track and monitor athlete ranking movements, and measure and compare athlete progressions over time,” said Andy Schmitz, USA Triathlon High Performance General Manager. “One of the most valuable elements was our ability to track our progress toward achieving a full quota of Olympic spots and carefully assess the details behind how our points compared to our key rivals. We see more potential with this type of programming and how it will help our team achieve new heights moving forward.”

The platform contains data from all ITU events and athletes and as such may be used to analyse age group as well as elite athlete performances. British Triathlon is developing an Age Group Role of Honour which will highlight performances in international events by extracting age group results and athlete data directly from the API.

“Triathlon is a modern sport and it’s important that we keep innovating,” said Jack Buckner, CEO of British Triathlon. “British Triathlon is due to launch a new website next month and with access to the new Triathlon API systems we hope to improve the user experience and make our website much more dynamic.”

The Triathlon API is also in use to enhance existing partner relationships with Columbia Threadneedle using the statistics functionality to develop head-to-head elite athlete comparisons and ranking reports and infographics.

Further information, developer documentation and an application registration portal are available at https://developers.triathlon.org.