Queensland looks for recognition as ‘endurance capital’

Finding that it is hosting a growing number of endurance and adventure events, drawing record international entries to top-shelf events from Tropical North Queensland to the Gold Coast, Queensland is seeking global recognition as the world’s leading adventure-endurance race host.

Queensland is already a proven IRONMAN destination, with the upcoming Cairns Airport IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship, held as part of the Cairns Airport Adventure Festival (running from 5th to 13th  June), recently havin confirmed a three-year hosting deal to 2018.

Hailed by organisers as home to one of the ‘most picturesque’ courses in the global IRONMAN suite – also including the IRONMAN 70.3 Cairns – one in five of more than 3,500 competitors are making the journey from overseas, with 42 countries represented at the event, led by competitors from Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States, China and Hong Kong.

By contrast, in 2015, Cairns Airport IRONMAN Cairns and IRONMAN 70.3 Cairns (staged in the region since 2011), drew just over 3000 competitors, with 6% of participants from overseas.

For many of these participants, the opportunity to compete in, on and around the Great Barrier Reef ranks high among their reasons for taking up the challenge.

While Tropical North Queensland boasts the IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship, the Sunshine Coast’s Mooloolaba Beach is flexing its muscle to welcome the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on 4th September 2016.

A global spotlight will also be cast on the Gold Coast during the 38th Gold Coast Airport Marathon (on 2nd and 3rd July).

Pitted as Australia’s premier road race and renowned for being one of the world’s fastest, flattest courses, hugging Gold Coast surf beaches and broadwater, it is the first marathon in Australia to hold an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Road Race Gold Label.

This recognition places the event alongside esteemed marathons in New York, Boston, London, Tokyo, Berlin and Chicago. 

Image: Cairns Airport Adventure Festival 

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