The State Government has signed a two-year deal to fund the SunSmart Busselton Festival of Triathlon in 2018 and 2019, which attracts some of the world’s toughest athletes to Western Australia.
The main attraction of the festival is the popular IRONMAN 70.3 Busselton triathlon, which is the biggest IRONMAN 70.3 event in the Southern Hemisphere and the world’s fastest growing endurance sport race.
The 2017 festival attracted thousands of spectators, as well as 2,450 individual competitors, 200 teams and 26 professional athletes from 19 countries, delivering about $5 million to the local economy.
The triathlon takes athletes on a challenging course which showcases some of the South-West’s most picturesque locations, including a 1.9 kilometre swim starting alongside the longest timber piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere – the Busselton Jetty, a 90.1 kilometre bike ride through the Tuart Forest and a 21.1 kilometre run along the stunning foreshore.
It also features a kids’ triathlon, an open water swim, a fun run, and a health and lifestyle expo.
The Busselton Festival of Triathlon will run from May 4-6, 2018. It is funded by Tourism Western Australia’s Regional Events Program, which is supported by Royalties for Regions.