Slovenia to host its first Half Iroman next September
Gap-fill: dopolni prazna mesta z manjkajočimi besedami (eno mesto-ena beseda) / Gap-fill: fill in each gap with one suitable word.
Koper – Slovenia will be hosting the prestigious Ironman Triathlon next year for the first time as the coastal towns of Koper, Ankaran, Izola and Portorož will be the venue next September of a Half Ironman.
The long-distance triathlon race, taking place on 23 September and organised by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), will __________ (1) of a 1.9 km swim, a 90 km bike ride and a 21.1 km run.
Race manager Milan Eržen told the press in Koper on Friday that the idea __________ (2) born when he met the organisers in Bahrain in 2014. “I realised that this is the right event for Slovenia, also to present it as a tourist destination.”
Eržen, __________ (3) of the main founders of the Bahrain-Merida professional cycling team, which will feature seven Slovenians in the next season, said that the event was practically prepared, apart __________ (4) “mere technicalities”.
The Slovenian organisers __________ (5) obtained a three-year licence for the event, whose first edition will feature only recreational athletes in several age groups.
A total of 2,000 spots are available, __________ (6) the organisers believe will be sold out after the registration opens on 18 December. The event is expected to generate __________ (7) to 20,000 additional overnight stays on the Slovenian coast.
The “Ironman I Feel Slovenia 70.3 Slovenia Istria” will start in Koper with the swimming leg, followed __________ (8) the cycling to Ankaran and across the border into Italy and back. The running leg will take place on the coastal road between Koper and Izola.
The event is also seen as a good opportunity to __________ (9) Slovenia as a tourist destination and establish business ties with executives from the Persian Gulf countries.
Slovenian Tourism Board (STO) director Maja Pak said that Slovenia is a green destination, an excellent host, a destination with __________ (10) heritage and cuisine”.
As it is a part of a trio of such events which also take place in Bahrain and Dubai, the STO will take the advantage of the event to present Slovenia on these markets.
(Adapted from sloveniatimes.com on 4 February 2018)
