The community of Carrillo in Guanacaste prepares to receive the visit of more than 15,000 people of 40 different countries next June as Costa Rica hosts the world famous triathlon competition Ironman 70.3 for the first time in history.

Over $350 thousand dollars will be invested in total, the majority of the funds will be go to paving 3 kilometers of road that extends from the community of San Blas towards El Moral, this is necessary as more than 2000 triathletes will be riding their bikes in this route. The rest of the funds will go to improving the area known as “Amor de Temporada” in Playas del Coco, the route close to Las Palmas Residential and the aqueduct and rainwater drainage in El Coco.

According to the Municipality the funds were already part of the institution’s budget, but the date for the execution of the same in these projects was preempted by approval of the Municipality council in a session held this past March 7.

The Municipality will also be in charge of coordinating security, traffic and public health.

Hoteliers in the area as well as other touristic companies will benefit from this event.

“There are 267 Ironman events around the world, and the type of tourists that will come to the country spend 28 thousand dollars in sports items and traveling a year, which leads us to believe that Costa Rica will receive a positive impact, generating more than 8 million dollars in the area”, stated Wilber Anderson from Miami Tri Events, organizers of the event.

Ironman 70.3 is organized by the World Triathlon Corporation and it involves a distance of 1.9 km (1.2 miles) swim, 90 km (56 miles) bike ride, and 21.1 km (13 miles) run.

This competition will offer 35 qualifying slotes to the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championship which will take place in Chattanooga, Tennessee.