AusLeisure

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has announced that the State Government has developed an annual international sporting festival to be held in Cairns from June 2011.

Premier Bligh said The Cairns Adventure Festival will be organised through Queensland Events and would provide a real boost to the Cairns economy, stating "this event will attract athletes from all over Australia and across the world and will be yet another attraction to this wonderful city.

"The headline event of the Cairns Adventure Festival will be Challenge Cairns Great Barrier Reef - an Iron Distance Triathlon. This is a full iron distance event consisting of a 3.8 kilometre swim, 180 km bike ride, and 42 km run."

Premier Bligh said the festival, which is in early June 2011, will also include a Charity Fun Run and a Community Concert, stating "Challenge Cairns will have the highest prize money of any 'Challenge' branded triathlon in the world $142,000, making it the second-richest triathlon in the world."

Queensland Minister for Child Safety and Sport Phil Reeves said the new event was the latest in a series of Queensland Government investments in Cairns during 2010, explaining "we have also supported the highly successful Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) in August and secured the Davis Cup Tie in September to the new Cairns International Tennis Centre and announced securing an AFL fixture to an upgraded Cazalys Stadium in 2011, 2012 and 2013."

Respected sports management company USM Events will run the festival, and have entered into a long term agreement with the creators of the global series of 'Challenge Triathlons', Family triathlons, German based TEAM Challenge GmbH.

Currently the pinnacle 'Challenge Distance Event' is held in Roth, Germany. Challenge Roth is a legendary event attracting 5,000 competitors and 150,000 spectators every year, returning an economic benefit to Germany of $18.4 million.

Minister Reeves adds "USM Events' highly successful Noosa Triathlon Multisport Festival and Mooloolaba Triathlon are sold out almost a year in advance, and over the years they have made a huge impact on their local economy during traditional tourism 'low seasons'."

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Val Schier recently commissioned an Events Strategy in conjunction with Tourism Tropical North Queensland and said the new Cairns Adventure Festival was a perfect fit and a wonderful opportunity for the city and we are excited to host this international event.

As Mayor Schier explains "I have no doubt the city of Cairns will do Queensland proud as the host of this great new festival,"

TEAM Challenge GmbH (director) Felix Walchshafer said the family-owned and operated business was thrilled to see their brand launched in Australia, adding "there is no better place in the south pacific region than Cairns to host a Challenge Iron Distance triathlon.

"Cairns is recognised as a global tropical destination, surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef and tropical rain forests. Its ability to host and entertain large numbers of interstate and international travellers is an ideal match and I look forward to working with Queensland Events and USM Events on creating this Australian 'Challenge'."

USM Events Managing Director Geoff Meyer said the Challenge Cairns event to be held within the Cairns Adventure Festival would further cement Queensland's reputation as the Australian 'Home of Triathlon'.

Meyer explained “Queensland is already the home of triathlon - now its Cairns turn to get in on the action.

"Challenge Cairns is a crucial step in maintaining Queensland's outstanding reputation for triathlon on a national and global level."

Meyer said two additional components were already planned for the adventure festival including a Mountain Bike Adventure Race in 2012, concluding “these events will take advantage of Cairns' unique geographical terrain, and capitalise on the growing global interest in adventure sports.”

For more information go to www.cairnsgreatbarrierreef.org.au

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