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The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has announced that in 2015 Australia will host a leg of its World Triathlon Series for the first time since 2012, with the Gold Coast confirmed as the second event of next year's series.

More than 4,000 interstate and international visitors are expected to attend the 2015 Gold Coast event when it is held between 10th and 12th April 2015.

Welcoming the Gold Coast's hosting of an event that was previously held in Sydney, Queensland Minister for Tourism and Major Events Jann Stuckey said it would strengthen Queensland’s reputation as a premier sporting event destination.

Minister Stuckey stated “this is a tremendous tourism coup for the Gold Coast.

"The city is now the only Australian location to feature on the 2015 ITU calendar alongside the likes of London and Chicago.”

Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) Chief Executive Leanne Coddington said TEQ was proud to continue its successful partnership with Ironman Asia-Pacific, to bring another high-profile triathlon event to the state.

Coddington stated “participatory sporting events have a proven track-record in delivering significant tourism outcomes for the host destination.

“The Noosa and Mooloolaba Triathlons, Cairns Airport Adventure Festival and IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast generated $43.4 million in combined direct and incremental spending in 2013. 

“TEQ looks forward to continuing to partner with Triathlon Australia, ITU and IRONMAN Asia Pacific to secure further international triathlon events for Queensland.”

Longtime ITU World Triathlon Series host Auckland will stage the first event of the 2015 Series on 28th and 29th March 2015 with the Gold Coast staging the second event in the Series.

Having hosted ITU World Triathlon Series event in Sydney in 2011 and 2012, the NSW Government opted not to continue staging the event as a result of traffic issues in the city. Since then and in spite of Australia being one of the world’s key triathlon and multisport markets, the region's only ITU World Triathlon event has been in Auckland.

2015 ITU WORLD TRIATHLON SERIES CITIES

28th & 29th March - Auckland
11th & 12th April - Gold Coast
25th & 26th April - Cape Town, South Africa
16th & 17th May - Yokohama, Japan
Dates TBC - London, Great Britain
18th & 19th July - Hamburg, Germany
22nd & 23rd August - Stockholm, Sweden
5th & 6th September - Edmonton, Canada
15th to 20th September - Chicago, USA

A possible 10th city could also be added to the calendar later in the year. 

For more information on the ITU World Triathlon Series go to www.triathlon.org

27th October 2012 - AUCKLAND ONE OF WORLD’S TOP SPORTING CITIES

26th October 2012 - SYDNEY LOSES ITU WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT TO AUCKLAND

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