Penticton will no longer host Ironman
Posted September 2, 2012 2:44 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
PENTICTON (NEWS1130) – After thirty years, Penticton is walking away from the annual Ironman Canada race.
The man who started the triathlon 30 years ago says it’s a case of politics getting in the way of sport.
Last week, Penticton decided to go with the new Challenge series for next year’s race.
Founder Ron Zalko wants the city and Ironman Canada to sit down before they lose an event that brings in $15-million a year to the area.
“Open the communication, settle the difference between the two, because there’s no win here,” he says. “What’s going to happen is the Ironman will be moved to another city, it’ll be the same challenge.”
Zalko says the risk is that Ironman is a well respected race that attracts world-class athletes, while Challenge is relatively new.
