World Triathlon says Yokohama meet success shows Olympics can be held safely

FILE PHOTO: Olympics - Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Test Event - Athletics - Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - May 9, 2021. A message regarding safe distancing measures amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is shown on a screen at the stadium before the start of the morning session of the Athletics test event. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

(Reuters) - The success of the World Triathlon Championship Series and Para Series under bio-secure bubbles in the Japanese city of Yokohama is further proof that elite events can be held safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the sport's global governing body said.

The races, which took place last week - less than 10 weeks before the July 23-Aug. 8 Tokyo Olympics - were the first to be held in the championship in 2021, with 285 participants and coaches from 36 countries.