Participants welcomed
Sara excited for city’s hosting of Ironman
DAVAO City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio, together with Sunrise Events President and founder Wilfred Uytengsu, yesterday welcomed the participants for Sunday’s Alveo Ironman 70.3 Triathlon event.
Duterte-Carpio during the press briefing at the Azuela Cove yesterday said that she has been waiting for the opportunity for the city to host the event since 2012, adding that it makes her nervous and excited at the same time.
“I have been wanting to do an Ironman since my first term as mayor in Davao City. Kinakabahan ako but I am very happy and excited for the next three days for Davao City,” she said.
Duterte-Carpio also welcomed the participants who came here in the city despite the Martial Law. She wishes the participants experience Davao City the best way possible.
Uytengsu said that the event marks the first time that an Ironman event is held in the island group of Mindanao.
“We can’t truly say that it is Ironman Philippines if we are not in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” Uytengsu said.
He also added that on the occasion of the 10th anniversary celebration, the medals which will be distributed to the finishers of the race are also one of a kind.
“Duyan ng Magiting” or Cradle of the Brave was the name of the medal designed by Mindanaoan artist Kublai Milan.
The medal’s design includes primarily an Agung, a percussion instrument, and around it are symbols of swim, bike, run.
Milan said that the T’boli community helped him craft around 1,800 medals which were finished a few days ago. They started around October last year.
Trophies for the event were also hand painted by the artist.
“The difficulty of the races is as difficult as the making of the medal,” Milan said.
He added that he hopes the athletes will carry the pride of Davao and Mindanao wherever they will go after the race.
“I hope you will bear in your heart (Mindanao’s) beautiful culture,” he said.
A life-size Duyan ng Magiting monument was also unveiled within the Azuela cove.
Meanwhile, DuterteCarpio assured during the press briefing that security arrangements have been made in coordination with Panabo City, Tagum City and Carmen.
She also thanked the cities and the municipalities’ cooperation in the event.
A total of 1,782 participants from 39 countries will compete in the 1.9kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike, 21-kilometer run competition presented by Petron, Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board and hosted by the City Government of Davao and the Azuela Cove.
Dabawenyos were also advised to cooperate with the road closures which will take effect starting 3 am, Sunday, on streets that will be affected. Road closure advisories were posted on affected roads.