DAVAO CITY (PIA) - The City of Davao is leveling up the preparations for the upcoming Alveo Ironman 70.3 triathlon race which will be held on March 26, 2023

“January mi magsugod na sa plannings and meetings in preparations for the March 26, third edition much awaited third edition sa kaning Alveo Ironman diri sa Davao City,” City Sports Development Division chief Mikey Aportadera said during his guesting at the Davao City Disaster Radio.

Aportadera said the third edition though will be easier to prepare as it has been templated with the city hosting two Ironman in previous years.

“It is no longer heavy as it is already templated with the City hosting two Ironman events, so karon fill-in-the-blanks nalang ta,” Aportadera said.

He said they are expecting many visitors coming to Davao City for the prestigious international triathlon event. Aportadera anticipates some changes with the new normal as there would be additional public health guidelines.

“Probably there would be some revisions on how the new normal would be implemented sa atoang Ironman events since mura man gyud ni siyag piyesta  ang iyang atmosphere kay tungod daghan kaayog mga bisita muabot  (Probably there will be revisions on how the new normal would be implemented in our Ironman events since it would the atmosphere resembles a fiesta with many visitors coming),” Aportadera said.

The race will consist of a 1.9-kilometer swim in the Davao Gulf, a 90-kilometer road bike from Davao City to Tagum City, Davao del Norte, and a 21-kilometer run along Bajada (J.P. Laurel Avenue).

Participants can register for the whole triathlon or for individual events as part of the relay team.

Aportadera said the event brings economic benefits to the city in the form of tourism which has been severely affected by the pandemic. This marks the return of Ironman in the city after a two-year hiatus due to the  COVID-19 pandemic. Davao City hosted the Ironman 70.3 in 2018 and 2019.

“It’s about time that the city would open again our doors sa atong bisita worldwide,” Aportadera said. (PIA-XI/RG Alama)