Taupō has won the rights to host the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in November 2020 – and it will be the biggest event the district has seen so far.
The announcement was made today in the lead-up to this year's Ironman World Championship event at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Taupō was selected over the other finalist, Perth, Australia, following a robust application process and a visit by Ironman Global representatives in June.
It is estimated the event on November 28 and 29 will bring an economic return of $20 million to the district, which is two thirds of the return the district's events normally attracts over the whole year.
It is the first time the 70.3 World Championship will be held in New Zealand and only the second time in Oceania. This year the event was hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. Next year it will be held in Nice, France.
Taupō District mayor David Trewavas said hosting the globally-rotating event was a major coup as it would thrust the district on to the world stage like never before.