World Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton cancelled for 2020

Based on a directive from Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Edmonton will not be hosting the 2020 Grand Final this year.

Add another major Canadian triathlon to the list of events that won’t be happening this summer thanks to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic – the 2020 World Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton “will not take place in 2020.”

Here’s the release sent out by the organizers of the event:

With the health and safety of our athletes and community our top priority, and based on the directive from Alberta Canada’s chief medical officer of health, the organisers of the 2020 World Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton are announcing that the Grand Final that was scheduled for August 17-23, in Edmonton, Alberta will unfortunately not take place in 2020.

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw clarified this Thursday, saying: “mass gathering restrictions currently in place also apply to all summer events or festivals in Alberta. Those restrictions prohibit gatherings of more than 15 people and require people gathered in groups of fewer than 15 to maintain a distance of two metres from one another”.

The Edmonton organisers, Triathlon Canada and World Triathlon want to share their deep disappointment that this event will not be able to take place as planned, despite all efforts from all the parties involved, but absolutely understand that the  current global situation with the COVID-19 outbreak make it impossible for the event to happen at this stage. 

World Triathlon, along with the Edmonton Organising Committee, the City of Edmonton and all stakeholders and the community partners  will continue to work closely together to find new options for the event to take place in the future, when it is safe to do so.

Our hearts and thoughts remain with our many frontline workers and those affected by this global crisis.