The organisers of IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh, Scotland’s biggest triathlon staged in the capital and outlying regions on Sunday 01 July 2018, today (21-03-18) launched IRONKIDS Scotland, a series of three fun and family-focused running events for young people aged 3 to 14. The events form an exciting addition to the IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh race weekend on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 June 2018 and are a key part of Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018 celebrations.

 

IRONKIDS Scotland – Midlothian at Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith [from 16:00] on Friday 29 June; and IRONKIDS Scotland – East Lothian at Preston Links, Prestonpans [from 11:00] and IRONKIDS Scotland – Edinburgh at Holyrood Park, Edinburgh [from 15:00] on Saturday 30 June are the venues for the fun-packed mass participation running events with routes of between 500 metres and 2 kilometres.

 

IRONKIDS Scotland is the newest event in the hugely popular IRONKIDS global series of children’s events, staged alongside the legendary IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon events, with 50,000 young people across the world taking part every year. However, in a first for IRONKIDS, IRONKIDS Scotland will see not one but three separate children’s running events being staged at three separate venues over the IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh event weekend. Registration for IRONKIDS Scotland is open. Sign up now for Midlothian, East Lothian or Edinburgh events on the IRONKIDS Scotland website – http://eu.ironman.com/triathlon/events/emea/ironman-70.3/edinburgh/ironkids.aspx#axzz5AC25F0FZ

 

IRONKIDS events have a firm focus on participation and fun, incorporating a family element into the event weekend whilst at the same time inspiring children to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh, organisers of IRONKIDS Scotland, are especially keen to make the events as accessible and inclusive as possible to young people aged 3 to 14 of all abilities living in the Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian communities. Registration is £4.00 per person with the aim of encouraging at least 1000 young people to sign up at each venue and enjoy the running, the competition and the camaraderie with their friends, as well as the family entertainment and sports taster sessions that will be laid on. Each child who takes part will also receive an IRONKIDS T-shirt to race in and an IRONKIDS medal once they cross the finish line under the iconic IRONMAN finish arch.

 

Young people between the ages of 8 and 26 will be provided with a unique opportunity to work alongside the event team in the organisation and delivery of the three children’s events, where they can shine on a local and World stage.

 

Co-design is at the heart of the Year of Young People 2018 and organisers of IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh and IRONKIDS Scotland are looking to recruit teams of local volunteers to take the lead in planning each IRONKIDS Scotland event. In order to make the three events the best IRONKIDS events of the global series in 2018 there are also opportunities to work with the IRONMAN event team in voluntary delivery roles on the day including event marshalling, customer relations and technical production. For more information on volunteering for IRONKIDS Scotland – Midlothian, East Lothian and Edinburgh – as part of The Year of Young People and to register interest in getting involved go to http://eu.ironman.com/triathlon/events/emea/ironman-70.3/edinburgh/ironkids/volunteer-at-ironkids-scotland.aspx#axzz59ph5YYLh

 

The iconic IRONMAN Series of events, the world’s most challenging endurance race series, is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Beginning in 1978 as a single race, IRONMAN has grown to become a global sensation with more than 200 events across 50 countries. In 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh, a middle distance triathlon, was the first IRONMAN-branded event to be staged in Scotland. 1625 athletes (80% men and 20% women) from 31 countries registered to take part and the winner crossed the finish line in 3 hours 55 minutes and 21 seconds.

 

Paul McGreal, Race Director for IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh, said: “We’re delighted to be able to bring IRONKIDS to Scotland alongside the IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh triathlon in 2018. It’s been an ambition for some time, and the incredible support of Year of Young People and our partners in the local authorities has made it possible. We’re looking forward to seeing up to 3000 young people have fun, be active, and demonstrate their skills and abilities. We’re particularly excited that young people themselves will be assisting us directly with the design and delivery of the events.”

 

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland‘s Director of Events, said: “Scotland is celebrating the Year of Young People in 2018 where the spotlight is shining on young people’s talents and contributions, giving them the opportunity to show the world what they are made of. Working with the events and festivals industry in Scotland, 2018 provides us with a special opportunity to showcase both our rich annual events programme and a host of brand new events which further reinforce Scotland’s position as the perfect stage for events.

“We are delighted to be supporting IRONKIDS Scotland make their first visit north of the border through dedicated Year of Young People funding. The event is a wonderful addition to the already announced IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh, providing young people with an opportunity to participate in a unique, fun experience within their local community. I’m sure it will create a wonderful family atmosphere across each of the three locations.”

 

Catriona Morrison, Project Coordinator for IRONKIDS Scotland, said: “IRONKIDS Scotland will truly be a unique event. Competitors will experience a race course that uses all the infrastructure of the main IRONMAN event in addition to experiencing the energy and atmosphere created by a festival of activation activities that will be organised by local young people.”

 

Joan Tranent, Head of Children’s Services at Midlothian Council, said: “We’re excited to be supporting the IRONKIDS event at Dalkeith Country Park this summer. The event is not only a great opportunity for local young people to have fun and be active on the day, it also offers a unique chance to be directly involved in the planning and delivery of a big event.”

 

Midlothian Year of Young People Ambassadors Anya Freeman (left) and Neve Wilson (right), launch IRONKIDS Scotland at Dalkeith Country Park. Photo David Cheskin.

 

East Lothian Council Provost John McMillan said: “Given the fun our Prestonpans Primary School pupils had in launching the IRONKIDS event, I’m sure all the young people who take part in June will have an unforgettable time. Events like IRONKIDS and IRONMAN 70.3 really help to showcase East Lothian’s natural beauty and its fantastic value as a venue for all to enjoy the great outdoors and to reap the health benefits of an active lifestyle. We’re delighted to be hosting an IRONKIDS event.”

 

Children from Prestonpans Primary launch IRONKIDS Scotland,Left to right Ben Simpson, Cleo Storrier, Reece Carrigan, Sophie Grieg and Prestonpans Primary head teacher Jonathan Revell. Photo David Cheskin.

 

Councillor Donald Wilson, Edinburgh’s Culture and Communities Convener, said: “As a keen marathon runner I know first-hand the benefits physical activity has on both your body and overall wellbeing. I think this family event is a great idea for encouraging young people to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, and have great fun while they’re at it. I wish the organisers all the best and would urge as many young people to sign up for this fantastic event as possible – with races from 500 metres to 2km, it really does offer something for runners of all abilities.”

 

 

Ends

 

Media contact for IRONKIDS Scotland:

Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: [email protected] |

M: +44 (0)7913 951717

 

Generic images of IRONKIDS UK events can be viewed and downloaded by going to https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nyll1xty59h3og1/AACQuJQZs90cd6rs46j6pgv_a?dl=0.  Please credit Huw Fairclough

 

Notes to Editors

About IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh

IRONMAN 70.3 Edinburgh will be stage on Sunday 01 July 2018. It begins with a 1.2 mile swim at Preston Links before athletes head eastwards from Cockenzie on a 56 mile one loop bike course, heading inland through rolling arable farmland via Haddington, Pencaitland and onto East Saltoun. From here an out and back undulating loop incorporates the historic and beautiful estate village of Gifford, which entails the most technical part of the course on a route that hugs the hills of the Lammermuirs. After transitioning, athletes are lead around a beautiful multi-lap, 13.1 mile run within Holyrood Park before crossing the finish line.  http://eu.ironman.com/triathlon/events/emea/ironman-70.3/edinburgh.aspx#axzz5ATSnEzE2

 

About IRONMAN

A Wanda Sports Holdings company, IRONMAN operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock n’ Roll Marathon Series®, Iron Girl®, IRONKIDS®, International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series races, road cycling events including the UCI Velothon® Series, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, premier marathons including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, and other multisport races. IRONMAN’s events, together with all other Wanda Sports Holdings events, provide more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. The iconic IRONMAN® Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races. Beginning as a single race, IRONMAN has grown to become a global sensation with more than 200 events across 50 countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.

 

About Wanda Sports Holdings

Wanda Sports Holdings is the world’s leading sports business entity, founded to capture the opportunities in the global sports industry and to contribute to the prosperous international sports landscape – in three key areas: 1) Spectator Sports (media and marketing business), 2) Participation Sports (active lifestyle business), 3) Services (digital, production and service business). Wanda Sports Holding incorporates the international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media, the iconic endurance brand IRONMAN, and Wanda Sports China. The headquarters are in Guangzhou, China.

 

About Year of Young People 2018

In 2018, Scotland puts its young people in the spotlight, celebrating their talents, contributions and creating new opportunities for them to shine. The Year of Young People 2018 is a year-long programme of events and activities that will give young people in Scotland the opportunity to show the world what they are made of. For more information on Year of Young People 2018 and the event programme go to http://yoyp2018.scot/

 

• The Scottish Government’s themed year for 2018 is the Year of Young People, following the Year of Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017.

 

• A global first, YoYP 2018 is a platform for young people aged eight to 26 years old to have their voices heard on social issues and their talents celebrated.

 

• A year-long programme of events and festivals are taking place across the whole of the country for all ages to enjoy, led by EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate. More information at www.visitscotland.com/yoyp2018

 

• Local authorities, schools, youth groups and organisations are running their own YoYP 2018 activity. Search #YOYP2018 on Twitter for the latest news.

 

• Young people co-designed the Year. A group of young leaders, Communic18, lead on all key decision making. More than 500 Ambassadors based across every local authority are championing activity.

 

• The Year is delivered in partnership between the Scottish Government, EventScotland, Young Scot, Scottish Youth Parliament, Children in Scotland, YouthLink Scotland and Creative Scotland.

 

• Scottish Government activity focuses on six themes chosen by young people: culture, education, participation, health and wellbeing, equality and discrimination, and enterprise and regeneration.

 

• More information can be found at yoyp2018.scot, searching @YOYP2018 #YOYP2018 on Twitter or by emailing [email protected]

 

• IRONKIDS Scotland is supported by the Year of Young People 2018 Event Fund, managed by EventScotland, part of the VisitScotland’s Events Directorate. EventScotland is working with the events and festivals sector to develop an exciting portfolio of Year of Young People 2018 public-facing events which provide opportunities for young people to express themselves through a wide range of activity.