Ironman show begins

Manama : The Ironman 70.3 Middle East Championship will be officially inaugurated today at BIC, with a special opening ceremony at 7pm, to be aired live on Bahrain Sports T.V channel, under the patronage of Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

This comes as the Organising Committee have finalised all the preparations to the hosting of the three-stage Championship, which begins on Saturday with a 1.9kg from 7am with a swim near Four Seasons Hotel, followed by 90km of cycling and a 21.1km run and conclude at the BIC.

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Olympic Committee, expressed his utmost appreciation to HRH the Crown Prince for patronising the event.

“I would like to warmly welcome all the participants, including the world’s champions and those arriving from different countries as well as the young Bahrainis who are taking part in the event and showcase their best performances for a competitive and successful championship,” Shaikh Nasser said.

Ironman strengthens Bahrain’s position 

Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, General Secretary of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, stressed holding such an event bolsters Bahrain’s reputation as a key venue for international events. “Embracing such an event represents a great step towards improving Ironman sport in Bahrain under the care of Shaikh Nasser and best wishes to the Bahraini participants,” Shaikh Salman said.

The Organising Committee will today also hold a briefing for all the participants, at Four Seasons Hotel, to share with them all instructions and matters related to the Championship and the importance of being present.

An expo featuring equipment and kits used in Ironman championships will be inaugurated today at 10am and is open until 7pm and throughout the championship at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, offering the chance to triathlon enthusiasts to shop for the best brands for their requirements.