NELSON MANDELA BAY, South Africa (August 30, 2018) – Event week for the 2018 Isuzu IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa was in full go Thursday with various activities including official swim access to Kings Beach, the Ndlovu 5K Fun Run and Professional Pre-Race Press Conference in the morning. Festivities continued through the afternoon when more than 100 countries represented at the 2018 Isuzu IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship marched in the Parade of Nations to Hobie Beach. The pre-race events surrounding the Isuzu IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship continue Friday with the IRONKIDS Fun Run before the Women take to the course on Saturday, Sept. 1 and the Men on Sunday, Sept. 2.
TESTING THE WATERS: An athlete takes advantage of every second of daylight on Kings Beach as final preparation for the 2018 Isuzu IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship ahead (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
OPENING ACT: IRONMAN legends and IRONMAN executives, from left to right, Dave Scott (six-time IRONMAN World Champion), Diana Bertsch (Vice President of World Champion Events for IRONMAN), Andrew Messick (President and Chief Executive Office of IRONMAN), Paula Newby-Fraser (eight-time IRONMAN World Champion) and Mark Allen (six-time IRONMAN World Champion) lead the Parade of Nations for the 2018 Isuzu IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
SHAKE OUT 5K RUN: Runners take a right-hand turn on the zebra crossing of Marine Drive in front of the Boardwalk Hotel in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa as they run in the Ndlovu 5K Fun Run (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
GENERATION NEXT: On Thursday morning a youngster smiles after successfully finishing the Ndlovu 5K Fun Run that took runners around the Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa in advance of the 2018 Isuzu IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
NKOSI SIKELEL’ IAFRIKA: Athletes from over 100 countries from around the globe conclude the Parade of Nations on Hobie Beach in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa which is center stage for the 2018 Isuzu IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
BRINGING OUT THE HERITAGE: Local residents share a piece of South Africa with athletes and spectators following the Parade of Nations at the 2018 Isuzu IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
THE FRIENDLY CITY: The 2018 Isuzu IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship hits the African continent for the first time in the races history. Nearly 4,500 registered athletes will take to the stunning Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa roads on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 1 and 2 (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images for IRONMAN)