Tourism industry set to benefit from 2000 ITU Triathlon World Championship

9/11/99
The 2000 ITU Triathlon World Championship, to be held in Perth next April, is already making its mark on the local tourism industry with over 1,100 hotel rooms having been booked by visiting athletes, team officials and spectators, Tourism Minister Norman Moore said today.
Mr Moore said that the World Championship on April 30, 2000 was expected to attract 3,000 competitors and their families and inject $14 million into Western Australia's economy.
Already rooms have been booked by teams from the United Kingdom, South Africa, the USA, Israel, the Caribbean, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Japan and the host country Australia.
The 1.5km swim, 40km cycle, 10km run course used for the 2000 ITU Triathlon World Championship takes in the Swan River, the city centre and King's Park, with the Perth skyline providing a stunning backdrop.
Mr Moore said that staging such a prestigious event in Perth would benefit all Western Australians with images of the race expected to be beamed into nearly 500 million homes worldwide.
"When 1,500 of the world's best triathletes race around our beautiful city, millions of people throughout the world will be exposed to Perth not only as a healthy, vibrant city with a strong sporting culture, but also as a spectacular tourist destination," he said.
The 2000 ITU Triathlon World Championship will be the only Olympic qualifying event held in WA leading up to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. This will guarantee a spectacular elite field and some fierce racing, in a year where triathlon will debut at the Olympics.
Hyatt Regency Perth general manager Robert Dawson has expressed delight with the early response. The Hyatt Regency Perth is the official host hotel for the event.
"We are very pleased to be involved with these championships again, having learned a great deal from the event we saw here in 1997," Mr Dawson said.
"This experience, coupled with our close proximity to the race site on Langley Park, will ensure we can provide a memorable stay for our triathlon visitors."
Media contacts:
Hartley Joynt, Minister's office, 9321 1444
Simon Beaumont, Media Manager 2000 ITU Triathlon World Championship, 9270 3311