IRONMAN CEO BACKS NELSON MANDELA BAY TO HOST ICONIC EVENT

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (November 10, 2016) – IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Holding company, announced in October that the 2018 IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship will be hosted by Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa on 1st and 2nd September, 2018. It is the first time an IRONMAN World Championship event will be held on the African continent.

 

Visiting South Africa for the first time since the October announcement, Chief Executive Officer of IRONMAN, Andrew Messick, reaffirmed his excitement at taking the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship to Africa for the first time.

 

“South Africa has a proud tradition of endurance sports, hosting some of the world’s most iconic events. We have been encouraged by the growth of our events across South Africa with one of the jewels in the IRONMAN crown taking place right here in Nelson Mandela Bay,” said Messick.

 

“We look forward to working closely with Nelson Mandela Bay as we enter this exciting period in the history of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship. We are confident that together we will establish an event that will be enjoyed and remembered by the world’s elite athletes, supporters and the Nelson Mandela Bay community,” added Messick.

 

Nelson Mandela Bay has successfully hosted Africa’s only full distance IRONMAN event since 2005, becoming the Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship in 2015.

 

“Nelson Mandela Bay is honoured to be the first African City to host the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship. Our City is fast becoming the continent’s sporting capital, with its favourable topography, climate and warm ocean water. Our excellent track record in hosting the Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship has opened our City up to the sporting world, placing us in a strong position to now host this prestigious international IRONMAN event. We look forward to welcoming the world's athletes and tourists to the Bay," said Executive Mayor, Cllr Athol Trollip.

 

The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship event expects to attract more than 6,000 athletes from over 100 global qualifying events in locations such as Australia, China, Spain, South Africa and the Americas.

 

For more information about the event, please visit www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/ironman-70.3/world-championship. For media related inquiries, please email press@ironman.com.