Qualification process
A number of qualification routes are available to reach the triathlon events at the 2015 European Games.
2014 European Triathlon Championships
5 Quota places will be allocated to the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of the top five finishers at the 2014 European Triathlon Championships, held between 19–22 June 2014 in Kitzbühel, Austria. If any of the NOCs of the top five finishers has already earned three quota places (for example by having four of the top five finishers), then, the next highest finishing athlete earns the quota for his or her NOC.
A National Olympic Committee (NOC) is a national constituent of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, NOCs are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games. They may nominate cities within their respective areas as candidates for future Olympic Games. NOCs also promote the development of athletes and training of coaches and officials at a national level within their geographies.
Kitzbühel is a medieval town situated in the Kitzbühel Alps along the river Kitzbüheler Ache in Tyrol, Austria, about 100 kilometers east of the state capital Innsbruck and is the administrative centre of the Kitzbühel district (Bezirk). Kitzbühel is a ski resort of international renown and its ski season lasts from mid October to early May. During winter and early spring it is frequented primarily by upper-class clientele from Austria and from abroad.
Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in Central Europe comprising nine federated states. Its capital, largest city and one of nine states is Vienna. Austria has an area of 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi), a population of nearly nine million people and a nominal GDP of $477 billion. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The terrain is landlocked and highly mountainous, lying within the Alps; only 32% of the country is below 500 m (1,640 ft), and its highest point is 3,798 m (12,461 ft). The majority of the population speaks local Bavarian dialects as their native language, and German in its standard form is the country's official language. Other regional languages are Hungarian, Burgenland Croatian, and Slovene.
European rankings
The 2014 ETU Points List as of 31 December 2014 will be used. 53 quota places will be allocated to the NOCs of the highest ranked athletes on the ETU Points List as of 31 December 2014, respecting the maximum quota allocation of three entries per NOC per event.
Athletes who have already qualified quota places will not be considered for this process. If this list is exhausted, the International Triathlon Union Points List will also be used. A maximum of twelve NOCs will be able to enter three athletes.
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) is the international governing body for the multi-sport disciplines of triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and other nonstandard variations. The ITU host the top level international race series the ITU World Triathlon Series and the ITU Triathlon World Cup. More recently, the ITU created a long distance race circuit with official world championships. Long Distance Triathlon races are closer in length to Ironman Triathlon races owned and organized by the World Triathlon Corporation.
Host entries
The Host, Azerbaijan is guaranteed two quota places. These places will be allocated to the NOC of Azerbaijan only if the NOC has not earned any qualification places. If Azerbaijan has already earned quota places, unused places will be reallocated through the ETU Points List.
Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and Iran to the south. The exclave of Nakhchivan is bounded by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, and has an 11 km (6.8 mi) long border with Turkey in the northwest.
Universality
5 'universality' places will be decided by organisers to ensure a wider spread of nations can compete.
