As the excitement around the Isuzu Ironman 70.3 Championship builds, the Molo Festival of Triathlon was launched at the Walmer Sports Fields in Heugh Road on Monday.
The festival aims to involve the city in triathlon through innovative projects and consists of a host of events, including schools development clinics, a championship swim race, a Hobie Beach cultural village and designated spectator zones, all aimed at preparing the city for the festivities on September 1 and 2.
Launched under the auspices of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the festival is also aimed at repositioning the city as an iconic sports tourism destination.
The festival begins on Saturday, with the first of three schools triathlon development clinics in KwaNobuhle, Uitenhage, that are specifically tailored to aspiring triathletes aged between 10 and 14.
The remaining clinics will be hosted in Motherwell Peace Park (August 4) and the Walmer Sports Grounds (August 18).
A championship swim will also be held to give regular swimmers a chance to tackle the 1.9km World Championships course at Kings Beach.
There will also be other beach events on the day, with another swim covering half the distance, a 3km beach run, kiddies beach run and surfski race.
The Hobie Beach cultural village will feature every aspect of the city’s rich history for foreign visitors and residents from August 23 to September 3.
Designated spectator zones will be set up in Gelvandale, Motherwell, Walmer and Kwanobuhle, with big screens broadcasting the action.