Sport
31 May, 2021
Athletes prepare for Ironman
Athletes from across Australia and New Zealand are heading to Tropical North Queensland for this Sunday’s Cairns Airport IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship Cairns.
The 2021 event is set to be the largest IRONMAN Cairns on record, with athletes taking part in either IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3 races
This year marks the 10th anniversary of IRONMAN Cairns, and The IRONMAN Group Oceania Regional Director Rob Stalling is looking forward to welcoming athletes back to the region.
“We can’t wait to see a record number of athletes take part in IRONMAN Cairns this weekend,” said Stalling. “It’s great to see so many athletes return to Cairns and our team looks forward to welcoming them across the finish line as they achieve their goals.
“The last year has been tough on the region and we’re thrilled to see an influx of competitors, their families and friends make their way north for this year’s event,” he said. “The 2020 event was the first IRONMAN to take place anywhere in the world following the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic and we were only able to hold it due to the fantastic support of our stakeholders and partners.”
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning welcomed IRONMAN athletes back to the region for this year’s event.
“This year, more than ever, IRONMAN Cairns will be something to celebrate,” Cr Manning said.
“There is nothing quite like the atmosphere in the lead-up to IRONMAN Cairns, and on race day the city is electric.
“Even in a time when we have faced continual uncertainty, IRONMAN Cairns has attracted incredible numbers of athletes from across Australia and New Zealand,” he said. “Athletes have been coming to Cairns for the past decade to ‘race in paradise’ at this popular internationally recognised event.”
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said locals had an opportunity to catch all the action on Port Douglas Rd.
“We welcome thousands of athletes cycling up the Great Barrier Reef Drive and into our beautiful region,” he said. “I believe we can try to make the most out of this year’s event and increase its flow-on benefits in future years.
“This is a great time of the year for events with the town buzzing after a hugely successful Port Douglas Carnivale and National Reconciliation Week,” he said. “From 10 am to 3pm, the section of Port Douglas Rd from Barrier St to Old Port Rd will be the place to watch all the action.”
For more information on the Cairns Airport IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship Cairns visit: https://www.ironman.com/im-cairns
