With positive news, the team at Challenge St Pölten in Austria has addressed its athletes. The race is planned to take place as scheduled on May 30, 2021.
‘The safety of all involved has top priority. A comprehensive prevention concept, developed together with experts, ministries and the Austrian Triathlon Federation, should ensure a safe and smooth execution.’
Since autumn 2020, no triathlon event has taken place in Austria. Numerous big-name events had to be completely cancelled last year – including the premiere of Challenge St Pölten.
The organising team at the event note that… ‘the desire for triathlon – for a bit of normality – is great. The current situation in Austria and throughout Europe is tense. Nevertheless, the team around Challenge St Pölten is convinced that a triathlon as an outdoor event can take place at the end of May. Many discussions with experts, considerations and planning have led to this decision.’
“We feel an incredible support from the city, the state, the authorities, the federation and our partners & sponsors,” said Christoph Schwarz, organizer of Challenge St Pölten. “Safety is our top priority. Should this be endangered, we will act quickly and take measures.”
The organisers point to a comprehensive prevention concept: the start-finish area will be cordoned off. Access is only possible for athletes plus an accompanying person. Both must have tested negative for Covid-19.
Supporting programs such as the pasta party will be omitted this. Instead, the athletes can look forward to a culinary goodie bag from Spar. The after-finish area will also be relocated and enlarged.
‘With the Olympiazentrum Niederösterreich in St Pölten the event has an optimal location and a perfect infrastructure. The expo will be located outside the restricted area and is therefore also accessible to other visitors and interested people.’
“We want to enable our athletes to do the sport they love so much even if it will be under slightly different conditions than usual,” said Race Director Oliver Laaber.
“For months we have been working behind the scenes on a comprehensive prevention concept with experts from the ministry, the professional association and the national association so that we can run and guarantee a fair and, above all, safe race for our athletes in Lower Austria.
“We are aware of the situation of possibly missing swimming practice and resulting unfeasible training sessions in the past months. Therefore, we can also offer a solution here. All those who do not want to start in the triathlon, we offer the unique opportunity to re-register for the ‘Bike-Run’ competition free of charge.
“If, contrary to expectations, the race cannot take place on May 30th, 2021, athletes can expect fair conditions, the same as last year.”
Matthias Stadler, mayor of the city of St Pölten, said “I am pleased that a local company is so committed that a sports event can take place at the end of May. We are very happy to support this. Numerous sports have shown what is possible. We want to show that triathlon can also take place here in St Pölten in this special situation.”
