News Swimming, cycling and running are already everyday activities in the world-famous beachside neighbourhood of Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro But things will be stepped up a level this weekend with the arrival of about 210 of the best Olympic and Paralympic triathletes in the world for the Rio 2016 test events in their sports The third of the 45 competitions that are being staged to help prepare for the main events next year, the Aquece Rio Triathlon Olympic Qualifier and Paratriathlon Event will take place around Fort Copacabana on Saturday and Sunday (1-2 August) As with last year’s Aquece Rio International Sailing Regatta, the triathlon/paratriathlon test event will be organised by the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, working together with the International Triathlon Union (ITU) In this sense it is different to the volleyball test event – last month’s World League finals at the Maracanãzinho – which was organised by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) but during which Rio 2016 tested various operations Rio 2016 will have about 70 staff and more than 500 volunteers working in Copacabana this weekend In terms of competition testing, the most important aspects will be related to the course design and operation, and climatic conditions – which should be the same as those expected during the Olympic and Paralympic Games next year Anti-doping control, timing and results management will also undergo important testing Non-competition operations will also be tested, such as public traffic flow management, athlete transport, medical services and venue management “We are going to replicate the Games services, just on a smaller scale,” said Delphine Moulin, head of test events at Rio 2016 “One of the most important aspects that we want to test in the case of triathlon and paratriathlon, in addition to competition management, is the integration of the city with the event Because these are open-air events, they will have a direct impact on the local population ”The Olympic triathlon test event course Copacabana: swimming section in red, cycling in orange and running in yellow  For Sunday’s Olympic event, which as the name suggests will also serve as a qualifier for next year’s Olympic Games, the course will comprise a 1 5km swim in the open waters of the sea close to Fort Copacabana, a 40km bike ride and 10km run The cycle and run will take place on Avenida Atlântica, with the cyclists also heading to the outskirts of Cantagalo Park in the Lagoa neighbourhood The paratriathlon event takes place on Saturday along a smaller course comprising a 750m swim, 21km bike race and 5km run – the latter two of which will take place on Avenida Atlântica Both events can be watched by the public for free The paratriathlon event will also give fans the chance to get a taste of a sport that will make its Paralympic Games debut next year in Rio More than 60 athletes from 15 countries are expected to take part Men and women will compete in five different disability classes between 9 30am and 4 10pm Six places (three for men and three for women) at next year’s Olympic Games will be up for grabs in Sunday’s triathlon event, which has attracted a top-class field, including four of the six medallists from the London 2012 Olympic Games About 150 triathletes from 25 nations will participate, with the women racing between 9-11 15am and the men competing between 12 30-2 45pm Rio2016 com will publish a preview of these competitions tomorrow (31 July) and for more information you can visit http://www aquecerio com/en/triathlon/ and http://www triathlon org/