World-renowned endurance sporting events on Hawaii’s Big Island postponed due to COVID-19 crisis

Another international sporting event in Hawaii is the Honolulu Marathon, which is still scheduled for December 13, 2020. (Courtesy Honolulu Marathon)

By Alfred Acenas
EBC Hawaii Bureau

HONOLULU (Eagle News) – While continuing to monitor restrictions and other conditions in relation to the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, organizers of the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 Hawaii triathlon have decided to postpone the event for the second time from August 15, 2020 to November 21, 2020. The annual competition, which draws an average of 2,500 participants, was originally scheduled on May 30, 2020.

All registered athletes of the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 Hawaii triathlon will be receiving an email with further information. Additional questions can be addressed via email at hawaii70.3@ironman.com.

Meanwhile, the 2020 IRONMAN World Championship on Big Island originally scheduled for October 10, 2020 has been postponed to February 6, 2021.

According to the IRONMAN Group’s website, “The decision was made after careful consideration with our local partners and authorities to assess the feasibility of hosting the 2020 IRONMAN World Championship this October in accordance with the recommendations on mass gatherings, border and travel restrictions, athlete qualification opportunities, and other issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic beyond our control. Based on the information we have to date, coupled with our mission to host a truly competitive world championship and establish a timeline that gives our athletes and the community as much preparation time as possible, the 2020 IRONMAN World Championship cannot proceed as originally planned.”

Athletes registered for the said event will be receiving an email with further information and can contact kona@ironman.com for inquiries.

“In what has been a continually evolving and challenging time globally, we recognize that a cancellation or postponement is disappointing, but we look forward to providing you with an exceptional race experience in the future,” said the IRONMAN Group.

The IRONMAN® and IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series is the world’s premier full-distance and half-distance triathlon series consisting of over 150 qualifying races in 50+ countries, regions and territories across the world. Each series culminates in its respective world championship event.

The IRONMAN World Championship is held annually in Kailua-Kona on Big Island’s west side while this year’s IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship is to be held along the Kohala Coast on Big Island’s north side.

(Eagle News Service)