The Ironman Europe, Middle East & Africa team has issued a statement confirming the cancellation of Ironman 70.3 Berlin 2014. Despite the efforts of the local event licensee SCC Events, which presented various bike course options to the relevant authorities, ‘the city of Berlin refused all of them’.
Ironman Europe stressed that the licensed event via local partner SCC Events had been trying ‘hard and for months to get a bike course approved, ultimately they were denied approval; thus the cancellation.’
Despite a successful event in 2013, the proposed 3-loop bike course through the district of Reinickendorf in the northern part of the city was not approved by local authorities due to traffic concerns; and, despite a number of bike course options presented by SCC Events, these were all rejected. The event was supposed to take place on 13 July.
“We are very disappointed that it is not possible to host such a high-quality sporting event like this one in the capital,” said SCC Events spokesman Thomas Steffens. “We had hoped – even if it was not in the city centre – that it would be possible to organise a triathlon of great international importance in a section of the city that is otherwise not overloaded with such sporting events.”
He continued, “On the other hand, we also must realize that a triathlon cannot be compared with running events, in which much greater numbers of participants are involved. As the organiser of major international running events, we have to accept that it is not possible to put on a high calibre and internationally oriented triathlon in Berlin.”
The official statement from the organisers is as follows:
We regret to inform you that the Ironman 70.3 Berlin 2014 will not take place. Despite the efforts of our licensee SCC Events which presented various bike courses, the city of Berlin refused all of them. As athletes we know you have trained to race in this specific event and we understand your frustration. After all, Ironman is not just a race or a series, but a passion that drives and unites all of us.
Ironman has committed to make all athletes affected by the cancellation of the race a special offer in order to continue your Ironman 70.3 journey. If you are currently registered for the race, expect an e-mail with an offer soon.
The Ironman Europe, Middle East & Africa team
(If you do not receive an email from us by April 30th, 1:30pm CET, please get in touch at eu.athleteservices@ironman.com)
