Sport
14 May, 2021
Olympic hopefuls in Port Douglas
A TRANS-Tasman rivalry will be reignited when Olympic Triathlon hopefuls battle it out over two Oceania Championship and Cup events in Port Douglas this June.
Australia and New Zealand’s top triathletes will gather in the resort town for two world-class events, which will be the first Trans-Tasman triathlon events on Australian soil since COVID-19 stopped international racing in March 2020.
The 2021 Oceania Standard Distance Championship will be held on Saturday 12 June, followed by the 2021 Oceania Sprint Cup on Saturday 26 June.
The two races will provide athletes from both sides of the ditch a valuable opportunity to test their skills under hot and humid conditions, mimicking those expected in Tokyo this July.
Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr said the events would showcase Port Douglas as a destination for major events and sports tourism.
“Tokyo is just around the corner, and the Games will represent a very special opportunity for optimism, hope and solidarity across the globe,” he said.
“Hosting the Australian and New Zealand national triathlon teams is a unique and incredible honour for Douglas Shire.”
“Our tropical climate offers a realistic simulation of the conditions for the competition in Tokyo. Add the beauty of Port Douglas, and the wonderful spirit of our community, and we have a very appealing environment for world class athletes to compete.”
“We might be in the far north, and it might take you a bit longer to get here, however we hope this event will demonstrate how well positioned we are to host large scale events in our region.
“We have the infrastructure, we have the talent to make it happen on the ground, and we have the location – where the reef meets the rain forest – it’s the most incredible backdrop you could hope for.”
The Green & Gold will take on the Kiwis in a 40km and 20km cycle along sections of Port Douglas Road, Davidson Street and Garrick Street. Sections of the roads will be temporarily closed with diversions in place to ensure residents and visitors can travel into and out of town.
