DAVAO CITY — The city government of Davao wants all road works in the city finished to pave way for the big triathlon event Alveo Ironman 70.3 in March next year.
City Sports and Development Office officer-in-charge Mikee Aportadera said the city government is set to meet with officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for road preparation as the requirement for the hosting of an Ironman 70.3 race is to have flat concrete or asphalted roads.
“This because, when the bike race will commence, the roads should have no holes and uneven surfaces,” he said. “We are doing our best to coordinate with the DPWH, also with our City Engineers Office to help us out in fixing the road for the race next year,” Aportadera added.
Aside from the DPWH, the city will also coordinate with the city’s barangays officials, security, and medical forces as well as the local government units of Panabo City and Tagum City in Davao del Norte because the bike race will reach to their area.
Aportadera said he is expecting to draw about 1,500 participants not just from the Philippines but also from other countries who will join the race.
“We are looking at, not only in the Philippines but also other Asian countries, because in the past Ironman races of the Sunrise events there were foreign athletes who joined the races,” he said.
He said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio wants to showcase the city and other parts of Mindanao to the participants from the Philippines and even to the foreign athletes.
“Once we will be hosting the Ironman in Davao City, one is we will be bringing people from the outside and they are able to see and feel what Davao City and Mindanao all about. Number two is tourism, since every athlete will also have companions,” he said.
Aportadera said that the tourism industry will benefit more on this big sporting event next year.
Earlier, Duterte-Carpio said the event will boost Davao City’s tourism industry, considering that the event is expected to draw local and foreign athletes.
“The Ironman event is tried and tested. (It) will bring people to the city. It performed well in CamSur and in Cebu, rest assured that we will expect more tourist arrivals, of course, the participants of the events to come here in Davao City as well as the supporters of the participants,” Duterte-Carpio said.
The Ironman 70.3 Davao is a special event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ironman in the Philippines. Prior to the Ironman main event, there will be other events like Alaska iron kids, which will be a triathlon for the youths. The participants will race through the city’s fusion of nature and urban infrastructure.
Ironman 70.3 is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). The “70.3” refers to the total distance in miles (113 kilometers) covered in the race – including the 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike race, and the 13.1-mile run. Prior to the launch of the 70.3 series in 2005, the WTC races were then known as Half Ironman. (PNA)
