ICAN Marbella 2012 expects to generate an economic impact in the area of ​​two million euros

The Ensenada Hall of the Hotel Fuerte Marbella was the place chosen this Wednesday for the launch of ICAN Marbella 2012. An event that was attended by the media, authorities and even triathletes who will attend the test next Sunday the 15th.

The director of Communication and CSR of the Fuerte Hoteles Chain, Joaquín Pineda, sponsor of the event, was in charge of welcoming all attendees. “Fuerte Hoteles, as a Marbella company and closely linked to everything related to sports, healthy living and responsible tourism, is proud to be able to collaborate in this event. Marbella and our hotel chain want to continue generating the interest of tourists and athletes as a destination in the future ”.

Next, the director of ICAN Triathlon, Sunil Bhardwaj, was in charge of giving the most technical details of the test, although in the first place he wanted to thank “Fuerte Hoteles, Marbella City Council, Andalusian Triathlon Federation and other collaborators for their invaluable help for the proper functioning of ICAN 2012. Without them and the rest of the entities that do their bit, all this would be impossible ”.

The head of the event recalled that this year about 1.200 triathletes will meet. “We are talking about a test that within the national panorama is already among the most important. From Friday there will be more than 2.000 people, with the entire ICAN program of activities, while on Sunday athletes of 20 nationalities will meet ”. A competition whose beginning and end will be in Puerto Banús, while the cycling sector will take the participants to the Port of Ojén.

José María Merchán, president of the Andalusian Triathlon Federation, highlighted the fact that “the number of registrants has tripled, which shows the fact that the organizers work seriously and efficiently. We know of the efforts that ICAN has made to bring an event of this type to Andalusia and I want to publicly thank it ”. In addition, the federative leader appreciated the effort of the sponsor Fuerte Hoteles and the Marbella City Council "for helping to continue developing an event of these characteristics in these times of crisis".

They were also on the table Eneko Llanos and Nicolás Ward, two of the most important triathletes on the national scene. The first was the winner of the ICAN Marbella 2011 and he wanted to show his public support for a test that "was a spectacular event and where the triathlete really takes great care". Next to him was the British Hispanic Nicolás Ward, third last year and who an injury a few days ago prevented him from starting. "I would have liked to be in a race that I really like and where everything is organized brilliantly." Ward also wanted to comment on the change in the cycling circuit. "I think that the forced change will allow us to enjoy a similar route in toughness and much more beautiful."

Finally, the Sports delegate of the Marbella City Council, Federico Vallés, closed the event and congratulated himself “for having this magnificent event in our city. Last year was already a great success and for this second edition we have exceeded all the forecasts in the number of entries ”. For this reason, the municipal representative made it clear that “the entire city will turn to ICAN Marbella this Sunday. I think a whole triathlon party is going to be safe ”.

Vallés also congratulated the professionalism of the ICAN company "which promotes family tourism, so necessary in these times of crisis, and highlights values ​​in which we also believe". Therefore, the Sports delegate assured that the Marbella City Council will continue to support future editions of the ICAN Triathlon.

In question time, all those present highlighted the economic value of a competition that hopes to generate an economic impact in the destination of close to two million euros, with an average of 128 euros per triathlete and night. Not surprisingly, many family and friends will come to Marbella who will take advantage of the entire weekend to get to know the city and enjoy a first-class competition.