City of Edmonton crews have been busy preparing for some upcoming international athletic attention.
Over the weekend the city hosted the 2014 Edmonton Marathon, which attracted over 3,600 runners and the TransCanada Corp. World Triathlon Grand Final was set to begin Tuesday.
According to the general supervisor of traffic operations, the City had been preparing a long time to play host to such events.
“Some of the work that was forecasted or planned to happen in the future we just moved that up to sort of accommodate some of the course work that needed to happen to improve the quality,” Brad Vanderhoek explained.
President and general manager of the 2014 TransCanada Corp. World Triathlon Grand Final said the beautification project will benefit the City in the long run.
“We have live television and that television is going to 45 million viewers. So that is Edmonton going around the world,” Shelia O’Kelly explained.
“I think we really wanted to make it look great and make it look the best venue that they have ever set foot on and I actually think we are on track with that.”
Organizers of the 2014 Edmonton Marthon said it was one of their favourite places to hold a run.
“The marathon heads out to Ada Boulevard you are seeing the river valley on your right shoulder. You turn around you come back through downtown and you’ve still got the river valley on your left shoulder,” event director Tom Keogh said.
Organizers of the TransCanada Corp. World Triathlon Grand Final expect over 4,000 athletes from 75 countries to be in Edmonton for the event.
The city last hosted the championships in 2001.
“I think a lot of people just don’t realize how active people are in the city on the weekend and the amount of events that the City of Edmonton does help or promote,” Vanderhoek said.
There will be several road closures during the event. For more details visit the City of Edmonton website.
With files from Sarah Richter
