Devonport To Stage World Triathlon Para Series As International Racing Returns to Australia
The city of Devonport in Tasmania will again play host to the World Triathlon Para Series in March 2023 as part of a festival of triathlon.
The World Para Series is expected to attract Paralympic and World Champions to the Mersey Bluff precinct – which has a long and storied history of hosting major international triathlons.
Triathlon Australia made the announcement today, revealing Devonport will also feature the Elite Oceania and Australian Sprint Triathlon Championships, the School Sport Australia Triathlon & Aquathlon Championships alongside Age Group racing.
Devonport Triathlon is part of the 2023 domestic performance calendar released today, confirming the World Triathlon Para Series race and Oceania Championships for March 18; the Australian Mixed Relay Championship on March 19, after the School Sport events from March 13-16.
In making the announcement, Triathlon Australia Chief Executive Officer Tim Harradine said: “The 2023 calendar marks the start of Triathlon Australia’s ten-year plan to return international racing to Australia.
“The return of World Para Series racing to Devonport, and a bid for a 2023 World Cup to also be hosted in Australia, is all about bringing international competition back to our shores – that’s our aim.
“The planned festival of triathlon in Devonport will bring together a wonderful cross section of athletes, from beginner to World Champions, in a celebration of our sport.
“Australia has a great history in staging these major events – Devonport holding a special place in the annals of triathlon having previously staged the World Para Series 2020 and the World Para Cups in 2018 and 2019.
“It is all part of our major push to attract more international racing down under in the run to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics.”
World Triathlon is expected to announce more events in the coming weeks, including the World Cup circuit. A successful 2023 World Cup bid would be the first time Australia has staged a World Cup event since Mooloolaba in 2020.
The 2023 domestic performance calendar will start in January with Grand Prix Triathlon hosting the Australian Youth and Junior Super Sprint Championships in Canberra before the Junior Oceania Championships in Taupo, NZ. Juniors will finish their season at the Australian Junior Sprint & Mixed Relay Championships at GPT Adelaide in April.
Stockton Island Triathlon (NSW) will again host the Oceania Paratriathlon Championships in February while New Zealand will host Oceania Cups (Elite) in Wanaka and Taupo, before a World Cup in New Plymouth on 25/26 March.
Busselton Festival of Triathlon will feature an Elite Oceania Cup (Super Sprint) along with an Oceania Paratriathlon Cup in April.
The domestic season will culminate in Port Douglas with the Oceania and Australian Standard (Olympic) Distance Championships on May 27.
