A report in the New Zealand Herald has pointed to some challenges faced in staging major triathlon events in New Zealand.
The news report notes that New Zealand reluctantly walked away from hosting the ITU World Triathlon Series in 2016 ‘because the numbers simply did not work’. The article goes on to point out a further blow to the local multisport community in New Zealand, citing that ‘Ironman 70.3 Auckland has also been dropped because it didn’t work financially through high operating costs and a lack of participants.’
Having been a part of the World Triathlon Series (WTS) for a number of years, and having hosted the World Triathlon Grand Final in 2012, Auckland will not feature in the 2016 WTS. Confirmed earlier this month, the 2016 ITU World Triathlon Series calendar will incorporate racing in the Middle East, Australia, Japan, Europe and the Americas:
- Abu Dhabi, UAE – March 4-5
- Gold Coast, Australia – April, weekend dates TBC
- Yokohama, Japan – May 14-15
- Leeds, England – June 11-12
- Stockholm, Sweden – July 2-3
- Hamburg, Germany – July 16-17
- Edmonton, Canada – TBC
- Cozumel, Mexico – September 11-18
The inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Auckland event took place in January 2013. However, the event website currently notes that the race is discontinued, with athletes given the option of considering alternatives, such as IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong in Australia, or the full distance IRONMAN New Zealand or IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo.
As the NZ Herald article points out, high operating costs are presenting a barrier. This is amplified in a market such as New Zealand, which has a smaller, albeit an active triathlete population, thus presenting a challenge to staging major triathlon events in the country. Maintaining the momentum for triathlon here will be a key objective, particularly as, in December 2014, national governing body Tri NZ witnessed a drop in the annual funding it receives.
www.triathlon.org.nz
www.ironmanauckland.com
