The 2016 IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship in Melbourne triathlon will now take place on Sunday, March 20.
Due to the recent announcement by the FIA that the 2016 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix will be held on April 3, IRONMAN Asia-Pacific decided it best to change the date of the championship in order to provide the best possible race experience for our athletes and spectators.
"Both the IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship and Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix are world-class events, bringing athletes and spectators to Melbourne. We felt the best outcome for both events would be to have them on different weekends," IRONMAN Asia-Pacific CEO Geoff Meyer says.
The date change will provide IRONMAN athletes, as well as their family and friends greater access to accommodations, restaurants and travel services, and will reduce the impact on Melbourne city resources.
For the fifth straight year, Melbourne will catch IRONMAN fever, with more than 2,000 competitors from over 40 countries around the world descending on the major sporting capital. The estimated economic impact for Victoria is in excess of $12 million annually.