Ironman Canada “cannot take place in 2020.”
It's official - Ironman says that its return to Penticton won't happen this year.
It’s official – Ironman has announced that the Penticton race will not take place this year.
According to an announcement on the official race website, Ironman Canada will not be taking place this year. This hardly comes as a surprise – last week we reported that the British Columbia government would not be allowing large events to take place until a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 was in place.
Read: BC will not host events larger than 50 people until there is a COVID-19 vaccine or treatment
Here’s the statement that appears on the Ironman Canada page on Ironman.com.
Based on the mandate from the Province of British Columbia in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRONMAN Canada – Penticton triathlon originally scheduled for August 30 cannot take place in 2020. We are working diligently on all potential options and further event updates will be communicated as soon as possible. Athletes that are registered for the race will receive an email with further details. If you have additional questions, please contact canada@ironman.com.
In what has been a continually evolving and challenging time globally, we recognize that this may come as a disappointment but look forward to providing athletes with an exceptional race experience in the future.
2020 was to mark the return of Ironman Canada to its original home in Penticton – the event moved to Whistler in 2013.
Related: City of Penticton gears for financial hit if Ironman Canada cancelled
Today’s announcement is not great news for the City of Penticton, which reported a few weeks ago that it was on track to lose millions of dollars in revenue thanks to the drop in tourism and with its casino and events centre shuttered. Losing Ironman Canada and the long-running Peachfest Festival (which is also likely to be cancelled) will be devastating for the city’s economy.
