Press Release: DESARU COAST MALAYSIA TO HOST INAUGURAL DESARU COAST MULTISPORT FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY IRONMAN

DESARU COAST MALAYSIA TO HOST INAUGURAL DESARU COAST MULTISPORT FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY IRONMAN

⦁ Held in southern Malaysia’s tropical seaside destination from 17-19 April 2020

⦁ IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast offers 60 qualifying race slots for the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships

⦁ First-timer friendly formats include 5150 Desaru Coast, Sprint Desaru Coast and IRONKIDS Desaru Coast

KUALA LUMPUR / TAMPA, Fla. (27 August 2019) – IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Group company, today announced its event expansion in Asia with a brand-new multisport festival in Desaru Coast, Malaysia. Desaru Coast Multisport Festival presented by IRONMAN will be held from 17-19 April 2020; the festival is the first of its kind in Asia, and will comprise an IRONMAN® 70.3® triathlon, 5150TM Triathlon along with IRONKIDS® and Sprint races.

The multisport festival weekend will feature IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast, the latest addition to the IRONMAN 70.3 Asia race calendar. The 5150 Desaru Coast, Sprint Desaru Coast and IRONKIDS Desaru Coast races will provide a fresh challenge for newcomers in the sport of triathlon.

Geoff Meyer, Managing Director of IRONMAN Asia, said, “We are thrilled to announce the launch of Asia’s first-ever multisport festival, a testament to the growing appetite for triathlon in Asia, and IRONMAN’s commitment to developing the sport in the region. The three-day event is designed to offer athletes a wider selection of race destinations and distances in Asia, also attracting newcomers.”

Situated on the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, Desaru Coast presents a scenic racecourse with a pristine 17-km beachfront that faces eastwards over the clear ocean waters with white sandy beaches and warm tropical weather. The course will start with a single-loop 1.9-km (1.2-mile) swim, with a start line located footsteps away from the official hotel, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort.

This is followed by a 90-km (56-mile) ride on a two-loop bike course along the coastline on smooth, flat roads. Athletes will then take on a 21.1-km (13.1-mile) shaded run course to the finish line at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort. The race offers 60 qualifying slots to the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupō, New Zealand taking place on November 28-29, 2020.

“The festival environment will provide athletes of all ages and abilities with a truly unique race experience. The combination of sea and jungle make for the perfect location for athletes to enjoy their surroundings while competing. With the support of the Malaysian government, we are excited to continue bringing endurance sport to more people in Malaysia and welcome more athletes into our IRONMAN `Ohana,” said CG Lim, Regional Director, Malaysia, IRONMAN Asia.

A new, integrated coastal destination resort in Malaysia, Desaru Coast is infused with globally renowned hotels and resorts, two championship golf courses, a conference centre, and an adventure waterpark. The destination enjoys a moderate, windy climate year-round with a natural landscape to welcome athletes from all over the world.

“We are delighted to host the first ever Desaru Coast Multisport Festival presented by IRONMAN in Asia and look forward to welcoming not just the athletes, but also their families and friends to Desaru Coast. With great climate and terrain, we hope that by hosting more international sporting events like Desaru Coast Multisport Festival presented by IRONMAN, we are able to propel Johor and Desaru Coast’s reputation as a preferred sports tourism destination in the Southeast Asian region,” said Roslina Arbak, Chief Executive Officer, Desaru Development Holdings One Sdn Bhd (DH1).

The Desaru Coast Multisport Festival presented by IRONMAN is part of the destination’s annual events programme, a curation of special events focusing on sports, lifestyle, and entertainment, designed exclusively to nurture Desaru Coast as a signature events destination. Located in the south eastern region of Malaysia, Desaru Coast can be easily accessed by land, sea and air, and offers a premium blend of tourism offerings which not only cater to high calibre sporting events, but also allow athletes and visitors alike an endless opportunity for escape.

IRONMAN 70.3 Desaru Coast and 5150 Desaru Coast will join the IRONMAN Asia circuit as the third and fourth races in Malaysia, adding to existing races which includes IRONMAN Malaysia and IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi.

Registration is now open for the Desaru Coast Multisport Festival presented by IRONMAN. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/70.3desaru and www.ironman.com/5150desaru.

For more information on the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit www.ironman.com.