With less than five months before the 2012 ITU World Champions are crowned in the fourth year of the ITU WTS series, Auckland’s preparations to stage the ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final are well underway.
November last year saw Auckland host the Barfoot & Thompson ITU Triathlon World Cup to glowing reports. According to the local organizing team, those international visitors planning on visiting Auckland for the 2012 Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Triathlon Grand Final and Age-Group World Championships should be warned – ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet!’
With last year seen as something of a dress rehearsal for the big show, this year’s hosting of the ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final and Age-Group World Champs from 14-23 October aims to set a new benchmark for World Championship events around the world.
Event CEO Dave Beeche leads a large team working feverishly on planning and preparing an event that will have a lasting impact on the sport in New Zealand and will leave a lasting impression on visitors in New Zealand to race or support family or friends.
“This is going to be huge, fantastic for the city of Auckland, New Zealand, the sport of triathlon, but most importantly our international visitors. Last year was a big success but we have not been resting on our laurels, this year is so much bigger in so many ways but the goal is to once again deliver an event that will do the sport and the country proud,” said Beeche.
He added, “There are many reasons to come to Auckland in October this year but the biggest plus for those participating or watching the racing is the ‘hub’ nature of the venue. Racing will be based in the CBD, with transition and race headquarters right on the downtown waterfront at The Cloud, a wonderful state of the art covered structure that is a legacy of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
“From the moment people check in to their hotels in the CBD, they can forget the need for a car; forget the need for long trips anywhere, all you will need is a map – which we will provide, and some walking shoes. Supermarkets, coffee, restaurants, bars, race headquarters, transition, massage and swimming – everything you need will be within 10 to 15 minutes walk of your hotel.”
Beeche notes that the organizing team has recognised the need to welcome all-comers to participate, with the addition of individual and team participation races.
“We want everyone to feel a part of this event, if you haven’t qualified for the Age-Group World Champs proper, come down anyway and be a part of a great week of triathlon and see Auckland and other parts of New Zealand while you are here, there will be so much to do and see.
“We are hosting 3:5:3 (300m swim, 5K bike, 3K run) races on Saturday (solo) and Sunday (team) on a first come first served basis, in terms of entries. There is no qualification, no criteria, just a love for the sport and a keenness to be involved. The team concept in particular will be great fun, with each participant completing the full swim/bike/run over a short distance before tagging their team mate.”
The Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Triathlon Grand Final 2012 takes place in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, from 14-23 October.
