NO MORE IRONMAN
On 14 July 2016, I saw the tragic terrorist attack in Nice unfold on the news. Around the same time, a friend of mine and I had been trying to decide on an Ironman-distance race for 2017. We got our heads together and realised there was one obvious choice – Ironman Nice, to show terrorism will never be the winner. We entered the race in August, booked the flights and started training. The date was in the diary – Sunday 25 June!
All was going well until I received an Ironman e-mail in November: “Out of respect for the victims of the horrific attack in Nice on the 14th of July this year, no events will be organised on the ‘Promenade des Anglais’ until July 14 2017. Consequently, Ironman France and the City of Nice have worked together to set a new event date for all athletes.
“After much deliberation and numerous meetings, the new date has now been set [23 July], which will make Ironman France the first event to take place on the promenade after the attack. This new development makes the 2017 event a truly special and symbolic one. With you, we can show the world that Nice is still standing, and will continue to celebrate life and sports in spite of this tragedy.”
Ironman proceeded to close the race entry page and place a ‘Register your interest’ page in place. I agree with the reason to delay the race, but I disagree with Ironman leaving the race entry open following those tragic events. I hoped Ironman would support those athletes who had already entered the race by covering their change in flight or accommodation costs because they, after all, had left the race entry open.
Despite numerous e-mails to Ironman I finally received a blunt response. No they would not offer any compensation for those already entered. But we were given a choice of three options: a full race-entry refund; automatic entry into Nice once the new date had been confirmed; or a transfer to any other open Ironman race in Europe or South Africa free of charge. Free of charge? When I’ve paid £500 to race Nice?
I ask the question, has Ironman the brand become so big it’s lost sight of the athlete? I was part of a large club who flew to Mallorca last year
for the 70.3 race. It had sold out but one of our team members decided not to race well in advance of the race date. He contacted Ironman to ask if they could transfer his entry to another teammate who wanted to race but missed the entry. They said no. The athlete offered to pay another full entry fee, they said no.
Their withdrawal and transfer processes are poor at best and I don’t agree with athletes funding these changes when Ironman could have placed a holding page for Nice registration following those tragic events. I now unfortunately can’t afford to book accommodation or change the flights and I have family commitments on 23 July.
I’m now left with no long-distance race for 2017 and a significant cost. I do hope Nice is strongly supported to show terrorism will never be the winner, but I will personally not take part in another Ironman-branded event. I hope the Challenge family, Outlaw and those smaller iron-distance events go from strength to strength. IAN CATLOW, EMAIL
Ironman replies re: Nice: “IRONMAN was not made aware of the City of Nice’s plan for a moratorium until October but we understand, respect and fully support their decision. We stand with the City of Nice united against terror and are determined for this race to take place in 2017. Athletes were offered a full refund, a transfer to another open IRONMAN race in our region or to race on the new date.”
Re: 70.3 Mallorca: “It is our standing policy that we do not allow transfers or walk-up registrations for sold-out races. This would be unfair to all other athletes who committed early to race in such a popular event as IRONMAN 70.3 Mallorca.”
“I do hope Ironman Nice is strongly supported, but I personally will not take part in another Ironman-branded event”