Belfast set to come alive with influx of triathletes

The event, delivered by voluntary organisation Community Multisport, will this year feature three separate sporting activities as the successful Belfast Titanic Triathlon, is joined by Run Belfast and Swim Belfast.

Supporting athletes is core to the event’s ethos and with this in mind, the Mary Peters Trust has been designated as the official charity partner.

With the support of Belfast City Council, the Department for Communities and a range of private sector sponsors, Belfast Alive will commence at 9:00am and run throughout the morning.

The swimming events will provide athletes with a unique view of the stunning Titanic Belfast building from the water, the cycle route is fast and flat through the Harbour Estate while the running sections take participants through the heart of the city and around City Hall.

Established in 2012, the Belfast Titanic Triathlon has grown year on year and in 2015 welcomed over 800 participants from across the British Isles and beyond.

Belfast Alive will not only attract hundreds of athletes but will be enjoyed by spectators and visitors which will help to contribute to the vibrancy and tourist appeal of the city.

Minor traffic diversions will be in place during the event with organisers working with the relevant agencies to ensure that delays are kept to a minimum.

Event organiser, Conal Heatley from Community Multisport said: “Belfast Alive is gearing up to be a fantastic event for both athletes and spectators.

“The Belfast Triathlon element of Belfast Alive featuring hundreds of triathletes taking to the water of Belfast Harbour will be a real spectacle for everyone to enjoy and will be a sight that should not be missed!”

“This year one of our key objectives was to encourage participation and with this in mind we are delighted to offer budding athletes the opportunity to participate in Run Belfast and Swim Belfast – a little taster which may encourage participants onto bigger things!

“This year we are delighted to support the Mary Peters Trust and ‘Mary’s Race To A Million’ campaign – a legacy project to support young and upcoming athletes. Events of this nature couldn’t happen without key partnerships and sponsors. I would like to thank all our supporters, especially High 5, Belfast City Council and the Department for Communities – without them this event could not take place.”

Dame Mary Peters, from Mary Peters Trust, added: “We are delighted that Belfast Alive has chosen Mary Peters Trust as their event charity. Last year as part of our 40th Anniversary, we launched Mary’s Race To A Million.”

The campaign aims to raise an additional one million pounds to enable the charity to continue helping our many talented young athletes towards sporting success.  

Since its founding in 1975, the Mary Peters Trust has helped over 5000 sports people in Northern Ireland. Alumni include Graeme McDowell, David Humphreys, Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan, Kelly Gallagher, Michael McKillop, Janet Gray and Katie Kirk. We thank Belfast Alive for their support and wish all the participating athletes the very best of luck.”