Taupo a finalist to host 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships
Taupo has been short-listed with Perth, Australia to host the 2020 IRONMAN World Championships.
The 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship is the pinnacle event of the 70.3 distance, where athletes vie for the title of IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion. The event is held over two-days, with the very best athletes come together to compete with professional women and age-group women racing one day and the professional men and age-group men racing on the other.
The southern hemisphere is in an annual rotation of regions which began in 2014, which also encompasses Europe and North America, as the location changes each year. Two Oceania locations, Taupo and Perth have surpassed all others who have placed a bid as they aim to add their name to the list alongside Nice, France, Chattanooga, Tennessee, See-Kaprun, SalzburgerLand, Austria and Port Elizabeth in South Africa, amongst others.
Taupo District Mayor David Trewavas is in the midst of our bid to get the event, having been involved in the initial application process for Taupo:
"We pride ourselves on being the unofficial events capital of New Zealand and we hope to build on our strong relationship with IRONMAN in our bid to host the 2020 70.3 World Championships. We always enjoy a chance to showcase our district, our great lake, and our culture, which is underpinned by Ngati Tuwharetoa, the iwi whose heritage forms a deep connection to the wider Taupo area".
"We are adamant we can deliver a world-class event for athletes and supporters from around the globe. It is second nature for our community to step up each time our IRONMAN family come and we look forward to the challenge and opportunity to go bigger and better than ever before" he says.
Feedback from athletes, supporters and visitors during IRONMAN events currently hosted here has culminated in us rating highly in the Best Host City Experience, Best Race Venue, Best Overall Run and Will Attend Next Year categories in the 2017 IRONMAN Athletes' Choice Awards.
The logistical challenge of such a large scale event will be met by the usual high standard of local volunteers, with a remarkable ten per cent of the population pitching in to help with everything from athlete check-in and aid stations across the course, to finish line medals and medical assistance.
IRONMAN Representatives are in the process of visiting both Taupo and Perth having a look at location, course structure and amenities in preparation of making a final decision.
June 15 2018
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Matt Mortimer Communications Advisor 07 376 0641 022 407 4990
Lisa NairneHead of Communications and Customer Relations 07 376 0762 027 839 8410