Organisers for the popular Ironman Australia and Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie events on the NSW North Coast are in the planning stages and working towards holding the 2021 event on May 2.
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In December, the NSW State Cup touch football proceeded as a controlled COVID-safe event after receiving a public health exemption.
Similar to this major sporting event, the Ironman team are also working closely with NSW Health, applying for an exemption to ensure a safe and controlled event can proceed as scheduled.
Should an exemption be granted, the event will run differently to previous years, with less hand on assistance to athletes, limited touch points and athletes spread out to ensure it is COVID-safe.
We've learned athletes want to go back to racing and will do what needs to be done so they can do that.
- Ironman Australia spokesperson
This will include encouraging spectators to view the athletes from various locations and not all gathering in groups, using proven COVID-safe ways to manage athlete transitions, aid stations, and start/finish points as occurred last year at Queensland events.
An Ironman Australia spokesperson said they planned to be in the region every month leading up to the event where they would continue to work with council.
IN OTHER NEWS:
The Ironman 70.3 Geelong, southwest of Melbourne, Victoria, has been approved at for February 21 which will give organisers another event leading in to Port Macquarie.
"We've learned athletes want to go back to racing and will do what needs to be done so they can do that," they said.
"We're all used to a new normal now and everybody from athletes to volunteers to staff have embraced that and we're looking forward to getting the event back up and running."
Unfortunately, Ironkids and the Bright Night Fun Run will not be held to allow staff and athletes to concentrate on delivering the safest main event possible.
"The alternative is to have no event."
"This is a valuable event for our local businesses and thousands of our local community volunteers and groups also embrace it and help make Ironman the success that it is."
- Port Macquarie-Hastings Council acting director Liesa Davies
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council acting director, Liesa Davies said that Ironman Australia is one of the region's most popular events, with the last event in 2019 injecting an estimated $16 million into the local economy.
"With Ironman unable to take place in 2020 due to COVID-19, athletes are keen to see this year's event go ahead, albeit with restrictions in place," Ms Davies said.
"Its popularity is demonstrated by the fact that entries have sold out already.
"This is a valuable event for our local businesses and thousands of our local community volunteers and groups also embrace it and help make Ironman the success that it is.
"They look forward to the Ironman experience each year, as it not only involves them in the excitement of endurance competition from athletes of all abilities, it also assists them in raising funds for worthwhile local community projects."
Should the 2021 event proceed as planned, the course route will be the same as the last event in 2019. This means there will be some road closures and the community are being encouraged to plan ahead.
To stay up to date with IRONMAN Port Macquarie follow the Facebook page facebook.com/IRONMANAUS
To see the planned SWIM BIKE RUN courses visit ironman.com/im-australia-course.
