HUNDREDS of triathletes, runners and swimmers are preparing for three sporting events as part of ‘Belfast Alive.’
This year’s Belfast Alive will feature the Titanic Triathlon, as well as Run Belfast and Swim Belfast.
The Triathlon is to begin at 9am on Sunday July 31 in Belfast City Centre, with the route taking athletes past the SSE Arena, Custom House Square, across the bridge to the Harbour Estate before returning to the City Centre past St. George’s Market.
The first wave of the Olympic distance starts at 9.00, as do those taking part in the Run Belfast 5K.
The second wave begins at 9.15, followed by the sprint distance starts at 9.30.
The 1500m Swim Belfast event starts at 9.45. Organisers expect all events to be complete and cleared by 12.30.
Conal Heatley of Community Multisport, who organised Belfast Alive, said that he hopes that more athletes will be encouraged to take part than 800 participants in 2015.
“This year one of our key objectives was to encourage participation and with this in mind we are delighted to offer budding athletes the opportunity to participate in Run Belfast and Swim,” he said.
“I would like to thank all our supporters, especially High 5, Belfast City Council and the Department for Communities – without them this event could not take place.”
Minor traffic diversions will be in place during the event with organisers working to ensure that delays are kept to a minimum.
Belfast comes alive to the sound of runners, swimmers and cyclists! from SmartVideo on Vimeo.
The Mary Peters Trust has been designated as the official charity partner of the event. Dame Mary Peters said the Trust was “delighted” to be chosen by Belfast Alive.
“We thank Belfast Alive for their support and wish all the participating athletes the very best of luck,” she said.
“Last year as part of our 40th Anniversary, we launched Mary’s Race To A Million. The campaign aims to raise an additional one million pounds to enable the charity to continue helping our many talented young athletes towards sporting success.”
