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HEFEI, China, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- IRONMAN announced on Wednesday that the 2016 Hefei Wanda City IRONMAN 70.3 Hefei triathlon, which will be held in Hefei, Anhui province on Oct 16, is sold out and registration has now closed.
The preparation for the first-ever offering in China of the world-famous IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon series is going smoothly as Hefei is determined to use this opportunity to develop itself into a 'city of sports'. One of over 90 events in the IRONMAN 70.3 series of long-distance triathlon races, the city of Hefei is primed to host the first in China after the brand was sold to Dalian Wanda Group last year. The event has attracted more than 1,600 athletes from 58 countries and regions.
One of the biggest stars to highlight the China debut is three-time IRONMAN world champion and two-time IRONMAN 70.3 world champion, Craig Alexander of Australia.
On Oct. 16, athletes will begin with a one-loop 1.2-mile counterclockwise swim in beautiful Swan Lake before embarking on a 56-mile bike ride that heads south through the city of Hefei, to Chaohu Lake and back to the Wanda Cultural and Tourism City. Participants conclude the three discipline race with a 13.1-mile run along Chaohu Lake and through the Wanda Cultural and Tourism City before finishing in front of cheering spectators in the heart of the city.
Athletes will be competing for 50 slots to qualify for the 2017 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, for which less than one percent of the world's IRONMAN athletes qualify. In addition, IRONMAN 70.3 Hefei will also offer 50 slots to qualify for the 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship which will be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the United States.
IRONMAN, which is the crown jewel of endurance sports, makes a giant step forward in expanding its brand with the IRONMAN 70.3 event in Hefei and then later in Xiamen of Fujian province in November.
The IRONMAN 70.3 Xiamen triathlon slated for November 13 will offer 40 qualiyfing slots to the 2017 IRONMAN World Championship.
