Nelson Mandela Bay Development Agency is spearheading an initiative that seeks to prepare previously disadvantaged black triathletes for the 2018 Ironman 70.3 World Champs in the Metro.
The initiative is being supported by the Municipality's Sport, Art and Culture Division.
Five black triathletes who posted the best times from Ironman 2016 and one from the Standard Bank 5150 Nelson Mandela Bay event last year were included in a development team which was set up to incentivise and improve the performance by previously disadvantaged athletes with the hope that some might even qualify for IM 70.3 World Champs in Nelson Mandela Bay in 2018," said MBDA spokesperson, Luvuyo Bangazi.
"The emphasis is on qualifying (not handouts) for the biggest 70.3 show in Triathlon right here on home soil," he said.
Bangazi, an Ironman himself, said this event would be perfect for the Metro to reposition itself and sell itself to the world.
"An event like Ironman is a perfect vehicle for that because of the audience and the type of spotlight and media exposure we get. But, one thing that's bothered us a lot is the sheer lack of really competitive previously disadvantaged athletes. So, we thought we'll get involved with an initiative that will boost and probably give a good chance to local black athletes that are competitive to show up on race day come the World (Champs) in 2018, that's why we're really involved," he said.
Bangazi said that as part of the effort to improve these athletes, multiple Ironman winner and former age group world champion as well as Route 67 ambassador Kyle Buckingham had agreed to take these athletes through their paces as final preparation and motivation before the big day on 2 April.
"Kyle has agreed to come back straight from a race in Asia where he finished in a respectable 9th position amongst a field that included a number of multiple champions and the current Ironman 70.3 world champion," he said
Buckingham meanwhile said that he saw this "opportunity as a way of giving back to my home City which I am proudly representing across the world".
Pics: Supplied
