EDMONTON – The Grand Final, triathlon’s largest race on the International Triathlon Union (ITU) calendar, will be held in Edmonton September 2014.
“We’re ecstatic about hosting the triathlon world in 2014,” says Sheila O’Kelly, Executive Director of the Edmonton Triathlon Academy. “The Grand Final is the biggest stage of the year for triathletes and Edmonton is a perfect setting for the world’s best – more than 5,000 elite, age group, junior and paratriathletes from all continents will descend on Edmonton.”
It’s estimated The Grand Final race will attract 6,000 athletes and will reach a television audience of 21 million people.
The economic benefit for Edmonton is estimated to be between $16 million and $21 million.
The opportunity for hosting the event came on rather suddenly. Since it’s been 40 years since the birth of the triathlon, the event was going to be held in San Diego, where one of the first official triathlons was held in 1974.
“But things started falling apart,” explained Jerry Bouma, Chair of the Edmonton Triathlon Academny in a news conference Monday, “and who did the ITU call? Edmonton.”
“But much had to be done, and done quickly, not least of which, the need to upgrade, improve, deepen and freshen the lake in Hawrelak Park,” said Bouma.
“We’re looking at about $2 million and the park,” said Batty. “When you think about the number of athletes coming and what the economic benefit is to our city it’s $16 million plus.”
“Some of this work has to be done anyway,” added Batty.
On Jan. 23, Edmonton City Council approved and additional $1.3 million in funding to make upgrades to Hawrelak Lake. Funding from other levels of government and sponsorship revenue will make up the rest of the funds required to put on the race.
A small Edmonton contingent, including Sheila O’Kelly of the Edmonton Triathlon Academy, and city councillor Jane Batty, travelled to Madrid to bid on the event on the weekend.
Monday morning, the group heard back from the ITU.
“We are here to say we have the 2014 Grand Final in Edmonton in about 20 months from now,” revealed O’Kelly. “This will be a hugely exciting event.”
“We will be expecting about 5,000 age group athletes from about 40 countries,” she said. “We are ready to put on a great show…. we committed to the ITU one word: excellence.”
“That’s twice as many athletes you get at the Olympics,” added councillor Batty. “So, go Edmonton! I think that’s really rather cool.”
“This will be a premier event for an already very busy summer in 2014, but it will be an absolutely great opportunity to showcase our beautiful city, our river valley, going up through the legislative buildings, and I understand that they’ll be over 21 million viewers watching, so what a great opportunity to really enhance our reputation as a great city.”
O’Kelly stressed the organizers will focus largely on the athlete experience, which is something local athletes welcome.
“If this doesn’t wake up everybody and get them fired up I don’t know what will,” said Kevin Clark, with a grin. Clark is the head coach of the Edmonton Triathlon Academy.
He’s confident the race will see many local athletes shine, including Olympian and five-time World Triathlon Series Winner Paula Findlay.
“She’ll be there for sure. Two years down the line she’ll be older and stronger. She’ll make a comeback no problem.”
“I’m thrilled that Edmonton will host the 2014 World Championships,” said Findlay, in a written statement. “I spend most of the year travelling overseas to major international triathlons, so the idea of having the biggest race of the season on home soil is very exciting… I’m grateful for the efforts of everyone who has worked hard to get this event back in Edmonton, and I’m so excited to show the world why we’re the City of Champions.”
“I remember watching the 2001 World Triathlon Championships in Hawrelak Park before I had started the sport myself. It was inspiring to watch Simon Whitfield, who was fresh off his Olympic gold medal in Sydney, and all of the other world-class athletes competing right in front of me. It inspired me to get into sport, and I hope that the 2014 World Championships will have the same effect on our next generation of superstars.”
2014 will be the fourth time Canada has hosted the Grand Final, with Edmonton having organized the race in 2001.
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