Samui Triathlon promises hell in paradise
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Some 500 athletes will fight it out for Bt4 million in prize money when the Samui Triathlon gets underway on Koh Samui, Surat Thani, on April 22.
The gruelling event will be splint into triathlon and duathlon events. The former features a 4km swim, 122.65km bike and 30km run, while the latter has a 10km run and 44.5km bike before culminating in an additional 5km run.
The event, organised by Koh Samui, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Triathlon Association of Thailand, Singha Corporation and Bangkok Airways, will be followed by a global TV audience via Euro Sport, France 5 and Al Jazeera, with local channels also covering the action.
Koh Samui Mayor Ramnet Jaikwang said he is keen on raising the profile of the race to international standards to help promote tourism in the province.
Bannasat Ruangjan, chairman of the Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association, said the tourism body wants to attract cyclists, swimmers and runners from around the world.
“Our top priority is to make our home the ‘Green Island’ so that more and more tourists will come to Koh Samui,” he said.
