Sport communities clash over their bids to host 2020 events

Edmonton’s triathlon and track communities have both secured marquee events for the summer of 2020.

Now some organizers are worried government funds and volunteer support are not strong enough to host them both. That means the city might have to back out of the world U20 track finals unless city politicians can quickly secure provincial and federal funding dollars.

“I’ll start acting on it immediately,” said Mayor Don Iveson after council’s community services committee wrestled with the issue Monday morning.

“Both of these events are of great value to our city and the province and the country.”

The money needs to be in place before Edmonton makes its own commitments during the fall budget discussions, which start Dec. 5.

“It’s going to be a pretty quick turnaround,” Iveson warned.

Edmonton has already committed $2.8 million to host the 2020 ITU World Triathlon grand final. It signed an agreement to host that event in December 2016.

Council also gave the Edmonton International Athletics Committee (formerly Track Town) $250,000 to bid on the 2020 IAAF World U-20 Championships. IAAF officials have verbally told Edmonton it gets the track event, but the triathlon organizers worry they might end up with less government funding and volunteer support if the track event goes ahead.

Council is being asked to set aside an additional $3.1 million from the city and Edmonton tourism for the track event.

The situation had everyone frustrated Monday.

“There’s no need to set this up as an either-or situation,” said Jerry Bouma, working on the track event. He said they’ve been told Sport Canada has no issue funding two events in one city in one year. The events are six weeks apart.

But Sport Canada only has $12 million annually for these kinds of events, said triathlon organizer Sheila O’Kelly. For provincial funding, they need to go to the treasury board for approval.

“We’ve been warned it’s not easy,” said O’Kelly. “The risk to triathlon is obvious.”

She’s also worried members of the public will be confused with both events advertising in the same season, and worries volunteers will get burned out. They’ll need five times the number of volunteers to host the grand final as they typically use.

I’ll start acting on it immediately. Both of these events are of great value to our city and the province and the country.

DAVID BLOOM/FILES Volunteers at work during the ITU World Triathlon Edmonton this summer. An organizer is worried volunteers will get burned out if two events are held close to one another.