The inaugural iron-distance triathlon Challenge Copenhagen, which debuted in the heart of the Danish capital of Copenhagen on 15 August, has been nominated for the prestigious International Sports Event Management Awards 2010 (ISEM AWARD).
Challenge Copenhagen is nominated in the category ‘Event Overlay/Facilities Award’. This will be judged on the broad merits of a project based on the creativity, architectural and managerial skills demonstrated to overcome the challenges of scale, timing (deadlines), logistics and accessibility, availability of local resources and budget.
The overlay includes the planning, design, installation and management of temporary facilities to enhance an event’s operations.
"Alone to be nominated for this prestigious award is an outstanding achievement, with strong nominees such as the FIFA World Cup and the 2010 Winter Olympics also in the category,” said Race Director Thomas Veje Olsen.
“The nomination is a recognition of the work our many volunteers have made, and it shows that we are on the right path. We have the backbone of the organisation in place and we know, together with our partners, where to put in the efforts in making Challenge Copenhagen an even better and nicer event with focus on quality for our athletes, spectators and sponsors."
With the unique location in the middle of the Danish capital of Copenhagen, Challenge Copenhagen was highly anticipated in the international triathlon community. Challenge Copenhagen was never supposed to be just a sporting event only for triathlon fans – it was meant to unite the city and Copenhageners embraced the event in every possible way.
"This is so much more than sport. We succeeded in organising an event that gathered more than 125,000 spectators along the marathon course alone and it was an event that brought together the spectators and people living in Copenhagen,” Veje Olsen said.
“Challenge Copenhagen is a unique event in the heart of the pulsating capital that takes advantage of the existing facilities and attractions to create a spectacular setting for the athletes and spectators.”
Other than being a great sporting event the Challenge Copenhagen iron-distance race also once more showed that Copenhagen is a major event city and fuelled the city’s branding, the local economy and a lot of goodwill for Copenhagen. About half of the 1,650 competing athletes came from abroad and the city had 16,000 commercial overnight hotel stays.
Felix Walchsh
