Ironman Cairns in doubt after organisers cancel Port Macquarie
It is arguably the biggest sports event on the Far North calendar, but fresh doubt has been placed on this year’s Ironman Cairns.
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It is arguably the biggest sports event on the Far North calendar, but fresh doubt has been placed on this year’s Ironman Cairns.
The event, which attracts athletes from across the world and injects millions into the economy, was originally scheduled for June 7 before the coronavirus pandemic forced organisers to find a new date.
They eventually settled on Sunday September 27, with both the Asia-Pacific Championship and Ironman 70.3 to be contested on the same day.
Doubt has been cast over the status of the Far North’s showpiece after Ironman Group cancelled the corresponding events in Port Macquarie.
Due to be held just a fortnight before Ironman Cairns, the Port Macquarie events were cancelled on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, due to reasons related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic including the uncertainty over the duration and extent of international and domestic border restrictions and the potential impact on local community resources, we regret to advise that IRONMAN Australia cannot take place as planned on 13 September 2020,” the statement read.
An Ironman Group spokesman told the Cairns Post organisers were discussing the Cairns event, with a decision likely in coming days.
In an update posted on social media on Wednesday, Ironman organisers said they were working with local stakeholders for an outcome.
“We are also working very closely with local stakeholders to finalise our plans for IRONMAN Cairns and hope to have an update regarding this event in the next couple of days,” it said.
The Ironman Group is part of the Australian Mass Participation Sporting Event Alliance.
AMPSEA is made up of Austrlalia’s leading mass participation sport event organisers, who joined forces in May to show how COVID-19 is leaving a $1.1 bullion hole in the economy.
Organisers will need to complete a COVID Safe Event Plan, with plans for events that attract more than 10,000 people required to be signed off by the Chief Health Officer.
The championship provides for 75 qualifying slots for the 2021 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
Ironman 70.3 Cairns will provide for 80 qualifying slots and 25 Women For Tri qualifying slots to the 2020 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Taupo, New Zealand.
Originally published as Ironman Cairns in doubt after organisers cancel Port Macquarie