USA Triathlon has chosen Cleveland to host its National Championships in the summer of 2018 and 2019. The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission announced the news Wednesday at Edgewater Park where part of the competition will take place.
The influx of athletes, their families and spectators is expected to put $13 million into the local economy.
Rob Urback, CEO of USA Triathlon, says Cleveland stood out in the decision process.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big investment for us, as our best and biggest race and I just feel that here, coming here, the people and the support that we鈥檝e had and so hopefully this will do even more to showcase Cleveland as one of the top sports destination cities in the country.鈥�
The course will take triathletes through the city鈥檚 natural resources and neighborhoods, including swimming in Lake Erie from Edgewater Park beach. Triathletes will then bike and run through Detroit-Shoreway, Downtown Cleveland, St. Clair-Superior and University Circle.
Urback says Cleveland鈥檚 setting made it an ideal city to host the largest annual triathlon event in the country.
鈥淚magine what our telecast could look like when you start with our downtown, the venues come out to the water here and how that will show off the assets of the city to the passionate community of triathletes around the country as well as even the world is watching this race.鈥�
Cleveland Metroparks' beach house, currently under construction at Edgewater Park, will serve as the hub for athletes on competition days.
The triathletes who win in each age group will qualify to compete with Team USA at the World Championships in Switzerland in 2019 and Canada in 2020.