Penticton’s loss could be Kamloops’s gain. The race is on between Kamloops, Kelowna, Vernon and a few other B.C.
communities to host the Ironman Canada competition for the next five
years. Council voted in camera Tuesday to submit a bid for the international event, held the third Sunday in August. City parks, culture and recreation director Byron McCorkell said the
event draws between 2,000 and 3,000 participants who run 42 kilometres,
cycle 180 klilometres and swim 3.8 kilometres — all in one day. Penticton has hosted the event for the past three decades, but
there’s been a falling out and that city is now working with another
triathlon group. That leaves Ironman Canada a free agent to find a new host city. Mayor Peter Milobar said he expects to hear a decision by mid-October. The City’s bid is being kept secret so other cities can’t steal ideas or outdo the Kamloops offering. “It’s nothing so out of the realm of what we would do for other events that you would be shocked,” he said. The competition requires volunteers, blocked-off running and cycling routes and swimming space. Milobar said Ironman Canada is one of the races that can be used to
qualify for the holy grail of these events: Ironman Kona in Hawaii. If Kamloops is chosen to host the event, there could be some City representation in the race. Coun. Donovan Cavers said he’ll try for the Ironman if it comes to town.
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