Athletes from across South Wales are busy preparing for a big international sporting week coming to Swansea.
Hundreds of them – like Swansea-based husband and wife David and Kelly Hutin – will be among the thousands who visit from Wales, all across Europe and internationally, to take part in the week’s top quality events.
Like the week’s organisers and partners, they want local people to be inspired by the activities, to compete in and to enjoy sport.
July 10-16 is due to see Swansea host the free international spectator events IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea, 2023 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea and the Para Sport Festival – with organisers being supported by Swansea Council and Welsh Government.
Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “It’s good to see Welsh athletes gearing up for another great week of sport. The city will offer a warm welcome to the thousands of athletes and supporters who’ll be here.”
Sketty-based David and Kelly, of South Wales sports club Celtic Tri, are among those due to take part in IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea, their first IRONMAN event.
Kelly said: “We know it’s going to be tough but we’re determined to complete the event and we know that all the participants will be cheered on by friends, relatives, workmates and supporters.”
David said: “Last year we volunteered on the event’s feed stations, and we loved the buzz, professionalism and dedication that IRONMAN and the athletes brought to the event. It’ll be the same this summer.”
The couple work for Swansea-based Solo Service Group which has commercial cleaning contracts around the UK. Kelly is finance manager, David is operations director.
New last summer, IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea will make its return on Sunday, July 16, with a middle-distance swim, bike, run event. It will see around 2,000 athletes enjoy the outstanding natural beauty and dramatic coastal landscapes of the scenic coast.
The 2023 World Triathlon Para Series Swansea, on Saturday, July 15, is the headline event of the Disability Sport Wales’ Para Sport Festival (July 10-15).
It will bring some of the best paratriathletes in the world to the city to swim, bike and run, with the SA1 Waterfront providing a hub setting for the action.
The elite action will be preceded by Para Sport Festival events such as the Welsh Para Golf Open, the insport Series: Swansea with more than 20 sports available to be sampled, the Boccia UK Team Championships Open and a Wales v Scotland deaf football international.
