Photo: Peter Weeber

The world has come to Penticton for the International Triathlon Union Multisport World Championships.

The ITU festival is welcoming athletes from around the world for 10 days of races and events.

The action kicks off today and continues until Aug. 27.

Penticton is hosting an estimated 3,500 athletes in various multisport titles.

"For a city that prides itself in triathlon, this is a great opportunity for the community to expand and create new connections and friendships from around the world," organizers said in a press release.

This is the first time the ITU Multisport World Championships Festival is being held in one location.

Excluding open-wave athletes, the city will see athletes competing from: 

• Canada - 1,030
• Great Britain - 335
• Mexico - 69
• New Zealand - 181
• United States - 1,077
• Australia - 200
• Brazil - 81
• Ireland - 25
• Trinidad & Tobago - 1
• Spain - 3
• Japan - 217
• Austria - 2
• Switzerland - 5
• Denmark - 13
• China - 1
• South Africa - 10
• Germany - 18
• Sweden - 3
• Italy - 2
• Colombia - 2
• France - 11
• Burundi - 2
• Belgium - 9
• Poland - 1
• Finland - 1
• Netherlands - 3
• India - 1
• Bahrain - 1
• Greece - 2
• Estonia - 1
• Russia - 7
• Bermuda - 7
• Czech Republic - 1
• Slovakia - 1
• Costa Rica - 1
• Gibraltar - 1