Kamloops loses out on Ironman bid

By Andrea Klassen - Kamloops This Week Published: October 01, 2012 4:00 PM
Kamloops will not be the new home to the Ironman Canada triathlon.  While a shortlist released by event organizers the World Triathlon Corporation includes two B.C. communities — Kelowna and Whistler, as well as Hunstville, Ont. — the Tournament Capital didn’t make the cut to succeed Penticton as host of the Canadian triathlon championships. Seven communities submitted bids to host the event, including Kelowna, Whistler, Kamloops, Vernon and Victoria in B.C. Penticton, which had long been host of the Canadian Ironman event, decided to go with another triathlon beginning next year. Last week, rather than attend the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria, Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray led a delegation to Florida, to present the city’s proposal in person to the World Triathlon Corporation. Kamloops decided to submit its proposal electronically. When asked by KTW to comment on Kelowna’s aggressive approach, Tournament Capital co-ordinator Sean Smith said Kamloops opted to not make a promotional trip. “I don’t think a decision is going to be made on whether to host an event because the bid was delivered in person,” he said. According to the World Triathlon Corporation, the selection of the three Canadian finalists was based on criteria as stated in the bid process that closed on Sept. 24. Mayor Peter Milobar said it’s disappointing to be out of the running for the event, but added the city’s Ironman bid was serious and put together well. “Our bid didn’t really pan out,  but it wasn’t for lack or trying or seriousness or financial commitment or anything like that,” he said. “I think we were very serious. We were in the ball game. We weren’t just hoping our reputation carried the day.” As part of the bid, the city had agreed to commit $75,000 in cash and more than $100,000 in in-kind services to the triathlon — which Milobar had suggested could have delivered about $15 million in economic spinoffs to the Kamloops. (more)