Today ( Friday 22nd March, 2019 ) the Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games, the Hon. Kate Jones and Townsville Mayor, Councillor Jenny Hill, announced that Townsville will be the host destination for the 2021 ITU Triathlon Multisport World Championships.

This event is one of the largest on the World Triathlon Calendar and will be the biggest sporting event that North Queensland has ever hosted. 

Ironman, the world-renowned event management company, has been contracted by Triathlon Australia and Tourism Events Queensland to execute the 10-day event. A Local Organising Committee will be established to activate community engagement, ensure the economic benefits are realised and generate a legacy as a result of hosting of this international status event.

The Townsville Triathlon Festival has been the key organisation behind the bid, supported by Townsville City Council, Townsville Enterprise, Tourism Events Queensland and Triathlon Australia. We are extremely proud that our homegrown Festival, which had humble beginnings, has now attracted an international Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships placing Townsville on the world stage.

The World Championships will see up to 8,000 people descend on the City and is anticipated to generate more than $16 million into the local economy.

The Multisport World Championships places the Townsville Triathlon Festival in a unique position bringing with it significant legacy opportunities. To ensure the Townsville Triathlon Festival is leveraging the opportunities of this announcement, moving forward the local festival will be known as the Townsville Triathlon and Multisport Festival.  

This new format Townsville Triathlon and Multisport Festival will be expanded over two weekends in August 2019 and will include an off-road weekend of racing to be held at Pallarenda as well as the traditional on road festival. On road events will also be expanded to include an Aquathon and Duathlon. These events are in keeping with events included in the 2021 World Championships.

Furthermore, Triathlon Australia has confirmed and will soon announce the inclusion of a series of National Championship events within the Townsville Triathlon and Multisport Festival program. 

Jamie Fitzpatrick

President

Townsville Triathlon and Multisport Festival