PRESS RELEASE                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2004

ROATAN IS READY FOR INTERNATIONAL TRIATHLETES

Roatan, Bay Islands – The island of Roatan is getting ready to host about 150 triathletes from about 15 different countries around the world. “We are proud to support the Port Royal Bay Islands Triathlon”, said Mayor of the Roatan, Jerry Hynds. The Island of Roatan has given the sport a warm welcome, and about 200 volunteers are expected to come and help with the event on March 6, 2004.

Roads are being fixed, banners installed, and all hotels in West Bay Beach are officially booked, with no vacancies for the weekend of March 6, when the event will take place. The host hotel, the Mayan Princess, has been booked for months for this weekend with more calls arriving daily.  “Hotels in West End are beginning to fill up too and it is increasingly difficult to find rooms near the race for our clients,” said Sandra Sampayo, manager and owner of TropicalRez, the official reservations center for the triathlon. 

“We are extremely happy to see hotels filling up due to the increased attention the island is getting lately”, says Leslie Poujol of Kemkon, Inc., coordinator of the event.  “The triathlon might not be the only reason hotels are filling up so quickly, but it certainly is one of the main reasons this is happening. This to me is very satisfying and one of the reasons we started the triathlon in 2003.”

There is an unprecedented number of professional triathletes coming, ranging from countries like Hong Kong, Japan, Gambia, Austria, Spain, Italy, Bolivia, Mexico, US, and Canada. “We also have a very large an unexpected number of novices. These are those athletes doing a triathlon for their first time ever. This shows that our goal to promote the sport has been fulfilled,” said Leslie.

There is still time to join and register. You can do it on-line until next Tuesday, March 2. After this date, you should do it in person at the Mayan Princess, from 3pm to 8pm during packet pick-up and attend the mandatory race meeting at 5pm.

For more information see our website, www.bayislandstriathlon.com.  Email us at info@bayislandstriathlon.com  or you can call 504-455-5841 in Roatan.

 

-Ends-

For more information:                Sandra Sampayo +504 455-5841 (Roatan, Honduras)                                                                  Leslie Poujol-Brown (803) 957-3347 or

1-888634-8776 in the U.S.

                                                            info@bayislandstriathlon.com