The city announced Monday that Edmonton has successfully bid to host the largest international triathlon race on the calendar.

On Monday, city officials announced the 2014 International Triathlon Union Grand Final would be held in Edmonton in Sept. 2014.

It’s exciting news for one local triathlete.

“As a triathlete and as the sport is growing, I think that’s great for Edmonton, and great for new triathletes,” Kelly Boisvert said. “It’s very motivating to watch world-class triathletes.”

In addition to being a triathlete, Boisvert also coaches a number of beginner triathletes – and hopes the upcoming event sparks even more people to join in.

“Hopefully we see a lot more triathletes joining the program, since it really is for every level,” Boisvert said.

The news came after the city decided to spend $600,000 on a bid to host the event – which is to be held at Hawrelak Park.

Now that the event is confirmed, the city is expected to conduct extensive upgrades to the lake in the park to bring it up to international standards.

A report brought before council last week stated the cost of repairing and improving the lake has been estimated at about $1.23 million.

Work on the lake is expected to start after Triathlon week in late June; the lake will be drained, cleaned and deepened.

The cost of hosting the race will be $6.3 million, with $3.3 provided by the City of Edmonton – and the rest coming from other levels of government and sponsors.

A previous report stated the event represents about $16 million benefit to the city, and it could attract up to 6,000 elite athletes – in addition to about 21 million television viewers from 160 countries.

San Diego was originally supposed to host the 2014 event, on its 40th anniversary – because that’s where the first triathlon event was held.

However, a number of problems arose with the host city, and organizers were forced to reach out to Edmonton in October – the city pitched their successful bid to ITU officials over the weekend, against a renewed San Diego bid.

With files from Dez Melenka