Chicago 2016 officials announced Friday their participation in the 2008 Accenture Chicago Triathlon. According to a press release, members of the bid committee and volunteers are providing support and cheering on the athletes from around the world competing in the event.
Accenture is sponsoring the 26th annual edition of the Chicago Triathlon taking place August 22 to 24. The event features a swimming, biking and running competition and is split into two categories – a sprint distance competition and an International or Olympic distance competition.
More than 8,000 people are expected to take part, which in recent years has made it the largest event of its kind in the world.
Chicago 2016 Chairman and CEO Patrick G. Ryan said, “with the triathlon following a path along Lake Michigan and Lakeshore Drive participants and spectators will get a small glimpse at what it would be like for Chicago to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games with such a picturesque background”.
This year’s triathlon takes advantage of many key features of Chicago 2016’s proposed venue plan, said the press release.
The first wave of the sprint distance competition starts at 6 a.m. Sunday while the international competition is set for 11 a.m. The start is organized into about 56 waves with a maximum of 150 athletes per wave.