South Asian Ironman 70.3 triathlon in Sri Lanka to bring 3,000 high-spending visitors to the country
The first-ever South Asian Ironman 70.3 triathlon event is all set to be staged in Sri Lanka on 25 February, with over US$ 3 million in revenue expected from the 3,000 high-spending visitors the event is anticipated to draw, the local media has reported.
“With expectations to attract high-profile participants and families during the period between 22 and 25 February, whom we think will spend seven to eight days in the country, the sporting event will generate revenue close to US$ 3 million,” Pro Am Serendib Director, Yasas Hewage has reportedly said at a media briefing in Colombo.
Noting that there were 880 registered participants for the triathlon from 64 countries, official licencee of the IronMan global triathlon brand in Sri Lanka, Pro-Am Serendib, has stated that it had to limit the number of participants to 880 as it needed to maintain the standards of the international sporting event.
Hewage has noted that sports tourism could be a thrust sector for Sri Lanka’s economy going forward, with major events of this nature happening throughout the year in all corners of the country.
“All of these participants will take Colombo to the world. As a country we are blessed with an unlimited supply of sunshine and unsurpassed beauty. Now with the many and varied visitors coming to our country we hope to show our Sri Lankan hospitality and hope to show more people from across the globe what makes Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia,” Hewage has been quoted as saying.
The triathlon will start with a 1.9 km open water swim off Galle Face Green, followed by a three-lap flat 90 km bike leg past the Colombo Port and along Marine Drive, ending with a 21.1 km run finishing at Galle Face Green.
The top six participating countries for Ironman 70.3 Colombo are India with 133 triathletes, the United Kingdom with 76, France with 47, Australia with 34, the US with 30 and Singapore with 26.
OSL take:
Organizing an event like the South Asian Ironman 70.3 triathlon in Sri Lanka would open up a new sector in the country’s tourism industry. The target of getting 3,000 high spending visitors to Sri Lanka to participate and view the event would create the opportunity to promote Sri Lanka as a sports tourism destination. Given Sri Lanka’s geographical location and tropical weather, interested foreign investors could look at the opportunity of investing and promoting sports tourism in the country.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20180220/Z_1 |