More than 1,300 participants took part in the Aviva Ironman 70.3 triathlon in Singapore.
More than 1,300 participants took part in the Aviva Ironman 70.3 triathlon in Singapore.
Competitors travelled from nearly 50 countries to take part in the event last month, and included some of the world's top triathletes, putting Asia's first Ironman 70.3 on the international stage.
Teo Ser Luck, parliamentary secretary for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Singapore, said: "This is the largest 70.3 triathlon organised in the world in terms of participant numbers and I congratulate the organising committee for the fantastic work they have put in. The success of the inaugural event is a big milestone for the Singaporean sporting scene."
The race kicked off with the swim course at East Coast Park, followed by a unique city-based course for the bike leg, taking the participants to the East Coast Parkway Expressway. Finally, the run leg took competitors through the Central Business District and finished at the Marina Floating Platform.
The Aviva advertising campaign linked to the brand strapline: "Who says I can't?" included Ironman TV commercials on all major Singaporean television channels, outdoor advertising and press coverage in the run up to the event.
Twenty-one-year-old Brazilian Reinaldo Colucci won the event, beating reigning world champion Craig Alexander whose title hopes were destroyed by a punctured bicycle tyre, and Swiss Ronnie Schildknecht came second.
The women's elite title was won by Australian Belinda Granger, while the Physical Challenge team winners were "Special Athletes" followed by SDSC (Singapore Disability Sports Council) Team 1. Team Aviva, a team made up of three Norwich Union athletes from the UK, achieved a very impressive fourth position in the team category.
Nearly 320 participants wore Aviva Orca Tri Tops (branded sports shirts), and for every one who did so, Aviva donated $5 (£1.6) to the "Live That Dream" fund set up by the Singapore Disability Sports Council to help disabled Singaporeans realise their sporting potential.
Aviva also added another S$12,000 (£4,000) to the total prize money under its Aviva Excellence Awards scheme.
Jessica Lee, director of brand and communications, said: "In terms of event logistics, the Aviva Ironman 70.3 was billed as bigger than the Formula 1 circuit visiting Singapore next year.
All those involved in its organisation should be very proud that the day was such a great success.
"The event also worked very well for Aviva in terms of brand exposure where we used the brand campaign ‘Who says I can't?'. We are looking forward to working with the organisers again next year to make the 2008 Aviva Ironman 70.3 an even stronger event."