In just five days time a feast of triathlon action returns to East London when the 2016 Buffalo City ATU Triathlon African Championships, the 2016 Buffalo City ITU World Paratriathlon event and the 2016 Buffalo City South African Triathlon Champs will all be held on Sunday at the Orient Beach.
This will be the fourth year that Buffalo City hosts the popular event, with the added excitement of this being used as an Olympic qualifier this year.
The success of it has been felt across the board over the years.
“Triathlon South Africa has been very happy with the quality of the event in East London,” said Pam Rossouw from Buffalo City Triathlon.
“None of these events would be possible without the institutional and financial support of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, in particular Keith Ngesi who has made this event possible the past three years.”
Since East London began hosting the event some of the world’s best triathletes have come down to compete in the main African Cup event, including South Africa’s own Richard Murray, who won the first event in 2013.
Last year’s race was won by German triathlete Jonas Schomburg, who races out of Turkey. However, he won’t be back to defend his title.
This has impacted positively on the triathlon scene in the city and has helped grow the sport locally, while showing local athletes the standards needed to reach the top of the sport.
A host of other positives have also come out of the event and has brought in a lot of revenue into the city each year.
“This event has allowed us to build relationships with local businesses which developed over the four years, such as Tribal Triathlon and the Kat Leisure group, who joined us in the first year as sponsors and who have remained with us until this final Olympic qualifying event,” said Rossouw.
“It also allowed the Local Organising Committee to perfect the art of putting on a world-class event, with 2016 being our second year of hosting the World Paratriathlon Event, which we were only awarded a second time based on the quality of the event last year.
“We estimate that each year this event brings in approximately R3-million to Buffalo City businesses, which include hotels, B&B’s, restaurants, car hire and game parks.”
All spectators are encouraged to come down to the Orient Beach and make it a memorable final event in East London, while also to cheer on some amazing athletes who will be aiming to represent their countries at the Rio Olympics later this year.
Top athletes to light up the Orient
This will be the fourth year that Buffalo City hosts the popular event, with the added excitement of this being used as an Olympic qualifier this year.
The success of it has been felt across the board over the years.
“Triathlon South Africa has been very happy with the quality of the event in East London,” said Pam Rossouw from Buffalo City Triathlon.
“None of these events would be possible without the institutional and financial support of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, in particular Keith Ngesi who has made this event possible the past three years.”
Since East London began hosting the event some of the world’s best triathletes have come down to compete in the main African Cup event, including South Africa’s own Richard Murray, who won the first event in 2013.
Last year’s race was won by German triathlete Jonas Schomburg, who races out of Turkey. However, he won’t be back to defend his title.
This has impacted positively on the triathlon scene in the city and has helped grow the sport locally, while showing local athletes the standards needed to reach the top of the sport.
A host of other positives have also come out of the event and has brought in a lot of revenue into the city each year.
“This event has allowed us to build relationships with local businesses which developed over the four years, such as Tribal Triathlon and the Kat Leisure group, who joined us in the first year as sponsors and who have remained with us until this final Olympic qualifying event,” said Rossouw.
“It also allowed the Local Organising Committee to perfect the art of putting on a world-class event, with 2016 being our second year of hosting the World Paratriathlon Event, which we were only awarded a second time based on the quality of the event last year.
“We estimate that each year this event brings in approximately R3-million to Buffalo City businesses, which include hotels, B&B’s, restaurants, car hire and game parks.”
All spectators are encouraged to come down to the Orient Beach and make it a memorable final event in East London, while also to cheer on some amazing athletes who will be aiming to represent their countries at the Rio Olympics later this year.
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