THE ORGANIZER for Ironman 70.3 vowed to strengthen measures for athletes’ safety to avoid a repeat of this year’s accident involving a male participant and a spectator.
Princess Galura, Ironman Group Philippines regional director, said, “The first thing that we did is find other bodies of water na hindi masyadong ganoon kalakas ‘yung current, so it’s calmer, swimmable, so napili natin tong coastal road,” Galura said.
With the bike race mishap in March this year involving a spectator who was accidentally hit by one of the racers after trying to pick up a water container in the middle of the road, Galura said they will detail more personnel along the roads.
“Instead of doing a one-whole loop, which means we have to guard 45 kilometers of bike outer back, we will instead be doing a two-loop para ma-ensure na contained tayo, pati ‘yung mga gwardiya sa mga nanonood,” she added.
In terms of personnel, Galura said the ground’s staff will be a combination of the security efforts of Davao City, Sta. Cruz. The organizers will be securing the race and the local government units will secure bystanders.
She also said they will further check the roads of Sta. Cruz two to three weeks before the scheduled event to ensure that the race and the athletes will be safe along the way.
“Things happen not only in the Philippines, things happen worldwide that we do not want to happen normally, but when it happens, we should be ready to respond,” she added.
The Ironman 70.3, a long-distance triathlon race, will be held on Aug. 11, 2024, at its new course and route, the Davao City Coastal Road.
