The mayor of Marbella, Ángeles Muñoz, this morning questioned the continuity of the Ironman 70.3 in Marbella, a sports event that is also linked to tourism and the image of the municipality. She has pointed out the adjustment plan as an argument, despite the fact that each edition costs 180,000 euros, but represents a return of 3 million, as she herself has said.
The contract with Ironman was signed in May 2017 at the initiative of the then government team with the socialist Jose Bernal as mayor.
Then they agreed three editions in Marbella, for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, plus the extension of a fourth for 2021 by mutual agreement between the parties.
Given that last year’s was canceled by the pandemic, the contract ends this year, pending the execution of the extension to 2022. From there, a new commitment would have to be made.
Therefore, the time has come to think about the continuity or not of this sporting event, which offers a profitability like practically no other and which is usually held in April.
The City Council pays the organization 181.500 euros for each test, which brings to Marbella for several days to more than 2,000 participants, plus his companions, two or three per athlete.
The return, as the mayor explained this Tuesday, is of 3 million euros directly, in addition to the indirect impact and promotion and advertising.
The calculations made for the 2018 edition, the first, increased the economic impact for the municipality in 12.5 million euros, and in 2019, the last one held so far, there was talk of about 10 million euros.
Although the money paid to the organization must be added overtime of municipal workers, the figures seem to add up, but the councilor has not guaranteed this morning, to questions from the media, the continuity of the Ironman.
“We want to continue betting on events of this level, but yesterday we approved an (adjustment) plan that involves a reorganization and it will be necessary to prioritize and restructure actions,” he said.
He added that they are analyzing the possibility of involving other administrations and also “adding the private initiative“.
Therefore, this event remains in the air due to the difficult economic situation that the Marbella City Council is going through as the government team has not foreseen the payment and court sentences and is now forced to request a credit of 44 million euros.
In order for the State Management Fund to lend that amount, it is necessary to present an adjustment plan for the next 10 years.
The Ironman 70.3 or Half Ironman consists of 1.9 kilometers of swimming in the sea, 90 kilometers of cycling and a half marathon (20 km) of running.
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