Ironman royals in ‘torture’ claims

WHILE Ironman South Africa celebrates its 10th anniversary by welcoming two Bahraini princes, Nasser and Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, human rights organisations in their country have accused them of torturing political activists in prison.

Athletes at the Boardwalk Hotel in Port Elizabeth, meanwhile, have also had to move out to make room for the princes and their entourage of 80 this week.

Ironman South Africa spokesman Ed Richardson said the organisers were “most certainly concerned about human rights” but, as a sporting organisation, Ironman “does not have a mandate or the ability to investigate claims made against athletes outside of the events themselves”.