Bikes, buff bodies and bucks for the Bay – on the eve of one of the city’s most anticipated international sporting events, thousands of excited athletes representing scores of countries have descended on the Port Elizabeth beachfront.
The competitors’ message is clear – they love the Bay and cannot wait to compete in the 2018 Isuzu Ironman 70.3 World Championship, one of the most gruelling competitions on arguably one of the best triathlon courses in the world.
And with some 4,500 participants lining up for the start this weekend and an added visitor influx of about 16,000, the economic spin-off for the city could be as much as R400m.
The municipality’s executive director for sports, recreation, arts and culture, Noxolo Nqwazi, said it was all systems go.
She said the local organising committee comprising Ironman international and Bay representatives, and members of the police, metro police, traffic law enforcement and other municipal departments had met on Thursday and no serious issues had been raised.
Nqwazi said a strong lawenforcement element would be present, with a joint operations centre fully operational.
“Patrols are taking place continuously.
“We have planned for a number of scenarios but obviously hope for the best from now until the end of the event.
“Closed circuit TV cameras have been repaired and will be monitored continuously.”
Nqwazi estimated that about 16,000 international visitors would bring in a net spend of between R300m and R400m.
Three water tanks with recycled water would be placed along the beachfront to supplement the shower systems.
“We have also been working with the tourism and hospitality industry as we continue to spread our water-saving measures to our visitors,” she said.
The SA Weather Service’s Garth Sampson said that while Saturday was expected to be pleasant with partly cloudy conditions and calm seas, light rain was predicted for Sunday.
“At this stage, only light rain is expected on Sunday morning, with most of the rainfall expected to be in the late afternoon to evening.
“But this may change as a low-pressure system moves through Port Elizabeth on Sunday,” he said.
Speaking at the official media conference at the Protea Hotel Marine on Thursday, defending 70.3 world champion Javier Gomez Noya, who is racing in the city for the first time, said despite the course not having many hills, weather conditions could play a major role.
“Here the course is not too hard in terms of hills, but the winds can make it really hard depending on where it blows from and also weather conditions on that particular day,” the 35-year-old Spaniard said.
Asked about crowd support, Noya said: “For an athlete, it’s great to have the support of the crowd cheering us on – obviously they will be cheering more for the South Africans, but having raced in South Africa before, the spectators have a lot of respect for all competitors and support everyone.”
American Sarah True, 36, who finished fourth at the 2017 world championship, said that while she was mentally prepared for a wintry, cold race day, she would welcome perfect conditions.
“What makes this course challenging are the conditions – if it’s windy, it’s going to be an extremely tough day, but it can also be a very fast course, with perfect conditions so it’s a more variable course than I am used to.”
True jokingly referred to the anticipated enticing aromas of braais along the course, saying she might be tempted to stop and grab a bite if she were to get hungry.
Traditional roosterkoek has already captured the taste buds of competitor Karen Rice, 41, of Colorado, who said she could eat it every day.
Speaking at the beachfront, she said: “South Africa is great.
“The bike ride I did down Marine Drive was one of the most beautiful I have ever done in my life.
“It was breathtaking.”
Despite losing his credit card while taking a picture of flags adorning Shark Rock Pier, French national Brice Hammerer, 26, ranked SA his best tourist destination.
“Are the people here always this nice?” he said.
“They are so friendly to us, always helping us to find our way around the city.”
Fellow Frenchman Robles Jeremie, 33, said he had not even begun his training, preferring to go sightseeing instead.
Competing for the third time, Shaun Provost, 28, of North Carolina, said: “South Africa is awesome, it’s beautiful. I love the vibe with the other athletes – we all have the same objective, same mentality and we are also very supportive and happy to be here.”
First-time visitor Sandra Klingberg, 54, from Brisbane, Australia, said: “We did a bus tour into the old city, so I have gotten to see the real bad and good of the city.
“You can see a real contrast where it is really rundown and where it is being maintained.
“The maintained parts are beautiful,” she said.
Radisson Blu Hotel sales and marketing director Michelle Muller said: “There is a great vibe in the hotel with all the athletes who have arrived.
“There is a general enthusiasm among our staff as well as any big sporting event in the city is exciting and contributes to the revenue and occupancy of the hotel.”
The Boardwalk Hotel marketing manager Nqobile Qupe said: “We are fully booked, which is great.
“There is a lot of excitement in the hotel and, walking around, you hear all the foreign languages – which is a lot like what we had with the 2010 Soccer World Cup.”
Beach Hotel marketing manager Lin-Maré Reeves-Williams said: “There is an amazing vibey atmosphere at the beachfront and at the hotel.”
The Company Social Brasserie operations manager, who did not want to be named, said it had been really busy and had hired 16 waiters ahead of the weekend.
Ginger assistant manager Kim Boehmke said: “We have had a serious influx of customers. There’s a lot of excitement in the air.”
Starting off with a 1.93km swim at Kings Beach, athletes exit the water onto the 90.1km bike leg loop before a 21km run ending at Hobie Beach.