Dear Ironman, please be patient: Victoria, B.C.

By Travis Paterson - Victoria News Published: September 20, 2012 6:00 AM
No one in Greater Victoria needs convincing – the region would love to be the new home of Ironman Canada.  That’s been the consensus since Ironman Canada owners, the World Triathlon Corporation, included Victoria on a list of desired destinations for 2013. Granted, it means putting aside the obvious commitments needed to host a race of Ironman’s magnitude. “We let WTC know we’re very interested, whether or not we can meet the conditions for the Sept. 24 deadline,” said Hugh MacDonald of SportHost Victoria. “With such a short timeline there is little we can do but submit a proposal of the route, and local interest to make it work.” The world famous long distance triathlon was bumped by Penticton in August, after 30 years, and MacDonald, with help from the Victoria triathlon community, is hoping to beat out Whistler, Vernon, Kelowna, Calgary and other cities that plan to meet the WTC’s proposal deadline of Sept. 24. MacDonald is spearheading the cause, and has brought plenty of world-class events to Victoria. With Monday as the proposal deadline, however, there is little more MacDonald can do but gather a lot of handshake agreements from the necessary stakeholders who agree in principle that they will support the race. “The route is multi-municipal, and it’s critical to have the municipalities on side,” he said. A lot of factors come into play, from the nitty gritty of who will pay for police and approve road closures, to whether the picturesque stretch of Dallas Road and the Inner Harbour can be factored into the race. There’s also an Ironman expo on the Saturday needing 15,000 square-feet, and a banquet for 2,000 that night. Those would have to be downtown, which is where most of the accommodation would be for the expected 2,500 athletes, plus family, coaches and friends who come with them. (more)