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All systems go for Ironman

WITH only a few days left before the start of the biggest sporting event of the year takes place in the Friendly City for the first time, athletes from all around the world have converged in the city to compete in the 2018 Isuzu Ironman 70.3 World Championship on Saturday and Sunday, September 1 and 2.

The much-anticipated triathlon, which is being held on African soil for the first time, will be the highlight of this coming weekend in the Bay with the women’s race on Saturday and the men’s race on Sunday.

The event expects to attract more than 4 500 athletes from over 100 global qualifying events in locations such as Australia, China, Spain, South Africa and America.

The well-known The Bold and the Beautiful actress‚ Katherine Kelly Lang, who plays the role of Brooke Logan, will also be competing in this year’s Isuzu Ironman 70.3 World Championship.

“This is an exciting time for our city with athletes representing more than 90 countries, territories and regions from around the world, expected to compete at this year’s Isuzu Ironman 70.3 World Championship. Around 10% of these athletes are South Africans and 90% are international athletes,” said Siya Ndzimande, spokesperson for Ironman South Africa.

The triathlon will offer a $250 000 (around R3.5 million total professional prize purse, which will be distributed to the first through to tenth place finishers in both the men’s and women’s races. The men’s and women’s winners get an equal amount.

Participants will range in age from 18 to over 75.

The event will be broadcast live for the world to see all athletes compete for this year’s Ironman title.

“This will be broadcast live on SuperSport and Facebook Watch.

“We are among only a handful of events to be offered a live streaming show by Facebook. The world’s eyes are going to be on Nelson Mandela Bay,” Ndzimande said.

The championship is part of a week-long festival, which will include a range of lifestyle events for the community and visitors to enjoy.

“Everything is in order and we are excited to showcase Nelson Mandela Bay to the world,” Ndzimande added.

In the build-up towards the 2018 Isuzu Ironman 70.3 World Championship, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality held a MOLO Festival of triathlon for all residents to enjoy and participate. This is a strategic intervention at repositioning Nelson Mandela Bay as an iconic sports tourism destination.

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