Published: Wednesday, 29th July, 2009 2:00pm

Increase in visitors, and traffic disruption, for Euro triathlon championships

by Adrian Cusack

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Athlone is set to host triathlon races over the course of three consecutive days for the European Triathlon Championships next year - an event which is expected to provide an economic boost for the town in the region of €7m.

While an official timetable for the events - which will be held during the first weekend in July, 2010 - has not yet been devised, it's likely to involve some road closures in the town on the Friday evening, virtually all day on the Saturday, and for part of the day on the Sunday.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent yesterday (Tuesday) triAthlone CEO Liam Heavin stated that the race schedule for 2010 must be agreed with Athlone Town Council and the Gardai.

Council Director of Service Barry Kehoe stated yesterday that he was not yet aware of what road closures would be necessary in 2010, and that the council's first step would be to evaluate what lessons had been learned from the staging of the triathlon this year. It's estimated that the economic boost to the town which the triathlon will bring an increase from €3.5m this year to just under €7m in 2010.

The 2009 event, which took place on July 18 last, attracted 2,500 participants, but this is expected to increase to between 4,000 and 5,000 participants next summer.

In addition, Mr Heavin said that negotiations have been taking place in an effort to secure four hours' live television coverage throughout Europe of the elite men's and women's races which will take place on Sunday, July 4, 2010.