World Triathlon Championship Finals returning to Edmonton this summer
It's official.
One year after a global pandemic caused the postponement of the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Edmonton, the event will kick off on Aug. 20 -- albeit on a smaller scale than in previous years.
The competition will see roughly 200 elite athletes from 40 different countries attempt to swim, run, and cycle their way to victory in and around Edmonton's Hawrelak Park in four separate races.
"We're extremely thrilled that events are coming back online now," World Triathlon Series Edmonton general manager Stephen Bourdeau said during Monday morning's launch event.
Another 800 to 1,000 community participants will take part in triathlon activities over the weekend.
This year's event will look a little different than ones seen in Edmonton in previous years.
Due to concerns over COVID-19, the amateur Age-Group events – which would have seen more than 3,000 international athletes come into the city - will not be taking place at the 2021 triathlon series in Edmonton.
LIVE SPECTATORS?
The current plan for the triathlon does not include live spectators, but Bourdeau told CTV News Edmonton on Monday that there is still hope that could change.
"Our plan is currently the bubble scenario," he said referring to the competition's international athletes. "It's going to final approvals, and once that is done we can open the conversation with Public Health Canada around having spectators and public access to the park.
"That is our intent and we do want (that) if it's safe to do so."
With Alberta set to lift COVID-19 public health restrictions on July 1, Bourdeau said the August event will "exceed" Alberta Health requirements.
"The past year has been a rollercoaster ride of stops and starts," he said. "Our team has taken great care, time and resources to the safety of our public, our athletes, our officials, our delegates, and our participants."
HEELS OF TOKYO OLYMPICS
The competition will come to Edmonton less than two weeks after the Summer Olympic Games wrap up in Tokyo, Japan.
Several Olympians will head to the provincial capital city after the Olympics for the triathlon series, including Canada's own Tyler Mislawchuk, who recently won gold at the World Cup triathlon in Mexico.
"Edmonton is home for me, at least race-wise," the Winnipeg native said remotely from Arkansas, U.S., during the launch event.
"There are not many chances in your career or lifetime as an athlete to race the world championships at home, and this will be a second time for me so really a dream come true," he said. "Hopefully I'll be coming off a good Olympic cycle."
'BRAND VALUE OF THE CITY'
During Monday's official launch, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson touted the economic impact he said the event would have on the city.
"There's direct and tangible economic impact of athletes and coaches coming and helping to support our hotels and our hospitality economy," the mayor told CTV News Edmonton.
Iveson acknowledged that those financial boosts would be larger if the event was operating at full scale, but also pointed to the positive exposure it will bring to Alberta's capital city.
"I think that there's the knock on in intangibles of the brand value of the city of hosting these major international events and keeping people safe while we do so," Iveson said.
According to event organizers, the elite triathlon events will be broadcast in 150 different countries.
"I think also demonstrating that it is safe to come to the city," said Edmonton's mayor, "and that Canadian and Alberta and Edmonton tourism restart is well underway injects a note of confidence."
ALGAE CLEANUP UNDERWAY
According to Bourdeau, cleanup of Hawrelak Park's lake is already underway to ensure swimmable water for when triathletes arrive in Edmonton.
"Every year we work with the city to undertake a water treatment program for Hawerlak Lake," he said. "Through management of the weeds, the waterfowl and lake levels, and lake temperatures, we're able to achieve swimmable quality water by the event."
The World Triathlon Championship Finals will be broadcast live within Alberta on CTV and nationwide on TSN.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.