We’ve won the right to host the first-ever IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship event in the Southern Hemisphere.
The half-marathon event is one of the most popular of its kind around the world and will attract global participation and a global audience.
Mayor Mark Jamieson said hosting the 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship would further elevate the Sunshine Coast’s sporting event reputation to an international forum.
“This is terrific news, but it’s fully deserving, considering how well we do events like IRONMAN 70.3,” Mayor Jamieson said.
Economic Development – Tourism, Sports and Major Events portfolio councillor, Jason OPray, said all the work in presenting the Sunshine Coast’s credentials and ability to hold such an event has paid off.
“We have a second-to-none reputation for staging world-class triathlon-style events here on the Coast,” Cr OPray said.
“Hosting this event will bring yet another massive boost to our local economy as we continue to raise our profile and aim to become Australia’s premier regional events destination.”
Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships was a superb addition to the Sunshine Coast major event calendar, complementing a dynamic offering of triathlon events for the region.
“In 2013 the IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast and Noosa and Mooloolaba triathlons collectively delivered an estimated economic impact of $36 million,” she said.