Proposal for Ironman return to Penticton
City staff have negotiated a preliminary five-year proposal with Ironman Canada that would see a full-distance triathlon in Penticton starting in 2020.
A proposal marking the return of Ironman to Penticton is to be presented to the city council next week. The last time Penticton hosted an Ironman was in 2012. Since then, Ironman Canada moved to Whistler, BC.
Related: Ironman Canada renewed through 2020
As reported by Colin Dacre of castanet.net, city staff have negotiated a preliminary five-year proposal with Ironman Canada that would see a full-distance triathlon in Penticton starting in 2020.
Since the split with Ironman, Penticton has continued to host triathlon events, including the Challenge Penticton, the 2017 ITU World Multisport Championships and Super League Triathlon.
In a report to council, Bregje Kozak, Director of Recreation, said they have been in closed-door discussions with Ironman for the past few months. Ironman’s return would require $663,000 in host-city contributions, but is being offset by private sector contributions from groups including the Lakeside Resort, Robin, Jessica and Lee Agur, Travel Penticton, Valley First, Greyback Construction, Wildstone Construction, Gateway Casinos and Great Estates Okanagan.
“The recommendations and supporting information that staff will present to council on May 7 represents several months of due diligence,” says Kozak. “With the current five-year triathlon agreement set to expire in 2019, the staff took steps earlier this year to begin the process of finding a successor event beginning in 2020.”
Council will debate the proposal on Tuesday, May 7th.
