Costa Rica has been chosen for the first time in the country’s sporting history as host of the 2013 Adventure Racing World Championship 2013, scheduled to take place in the first two weeks of November next year.
While doing the announcement this week, Marketing Director and Deputy Manager of the Costa Rica Tourist Board, Ireth Rodriguez, said that the country’s selection is proof of the international recognition of Costa Rica as a top adventure tourism land. AR World Series Director, Craig Bycroft, said “Costa Rica will be a stunning destination for international athletes and provide brilliant terrain and environment for a very adventurous World Championship”.
A total of 360 participants, in 90 teams of four people each, will compete in multiple disciplines such as rafting, kayaking, mountain biking, trekking, inner tubing, coasteering and canyoning over a 700km course. It will be a non-stop competition over four to eight days. Between 26 and 30 countries will be represented, including the UK, US, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, France, Australia and New Zealand. More than 50 specialist media from around the world will be in town to cover the event.
The Adventure Race World Series consists of 11 Qualifier events around the world leading to the final Adventure Race World Championship. Costa Rica has hosted Qualifier events in three consecutive years, one of the requirements to host the final. The Costa Rica Adventure Race was held in the north of the country in 2010 and on the Caribbean coast in 2011. The 2012 Costa Rica Adventure Race takes place from 21-28 April in the Central Pacific and Guanacaste, on the Pacific coast.
According to Johana Arguello, organizer of Costa Rica Adventure Race 2012, Costa Rica beat competition from other candidates, including the US, to host next year’s final because of the country’s lush nature, the quality of its tourism development, and its sustainable approach.
Costa Rica was voted one of the Top 10 most popular adventure tourism destinations by International Business Times magazine. In 2011, 72 per cent of visitors who came to Costa Rica enjoyed some kind of adventure sports such as canopy tours, surfing, rafting, sea kayaking, diving or bungee jumping.
In order to reduce CO2 emissions produced by the international flights taking the athletes to Costa Rica, and the vehicles used by the organizers during the championship, all participants and members of the organization team will carry out activities such as tree planting.
Costa Rica Real Estate | Costa Developers
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