MEDIA RELEASE

The Kona Lottery and Legacy Program launched Nov. 1, 2011, giving athletes the opportunity to win coveted entries into the 2012 Ironman World Championship on Oct. 13.

Due to a large number of athletes being unaware of the Kona Lottery entry deadline, the entry deadline has been extended to 6 p.m. (Hawaii time) Friday, March 9.

We appreciate all of the feedback we have received and realize that thousands of people look forward to the opportunity to enter the Kona Lottery each year. We missed the mark in communicating the deadline date to the triathlon community.

Each person who wants to enter the lottery, a mainstay in the rich history of Ironman, should have that chance. Our athletes are incredibly loyal to our sport and we want to be sure that we are reciprocating that loyalty.

Beginning this year, athletes will have an increased chance of being selected for the Ironman Lottery based on the number of years that they have entered. For each year an athlete has registered since 2001, his or her chances increase accordingly.

For example, if an athlete registers for the 2012 Ironman Lottery and has registered for every lottery from 2001 through 2012, he or she will have 12 chances of being selected for a lottery slot into the 2012 Ironman World Championship. Passport Club membership would give that athlete an additional chance of being selected with a total of 13 lottery entries.

The newly launched Ironman Legacy Program will grant loyal Ironman athletes an opportunity to compete in Kona at least once in their lifetime. One hundred Legacy winners will be chosen by WTC and selection will be based on several criteria.

To be eligible for selection in the Legacy Program, athletes must have completed a minimum of 12 full-distance Ironman-branded races, have never started the Ironman World Championship, have completed at least one Ironman event in each of the 2010 and 2011 seasons and be registered for an Ironman event in 2012.

A mainstay in the history of Ironman, the Ironman Lottery began in 1983 thanks to the vision of one of Ironman’s founders, John Collins, as a way to provide athletes ranging in ability the opportunity to qualify for the world’s most challenging one-day endurance event. More than 7,000 athletes apply for the Ironman Lottery each year.

In 1990, Ironman created the Passport Club, open to athletes worldwide. In addition to other member benefits, the Passport Club gives athletes an increased chance of being selected through the lottery by offering them one additional entry.

To enter the Kona Lottery, visit www.ironmanworldchampionship.com

For questions related to the program, email Lottery@ironman.com.