Spectators told: No selfies with triathletes during Ironman

CEBU, Philippines — Spectators of the Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific championships this Sunday are advised to refrain from taking selfies with triathletes, especially celebrities, during the race’s bike leg.

Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) Chief Limuel Obon said this would prevent disrupting the flow of the race and causing accidents.

“Bawal ang mag-selfie kay masangit hinuon along the way,” he said.

He said though taking photos and selfies is allowed but only outside track and/or after the race.

The bike route will traverse ML Quezon Avenue, Mactan Circumferential Road, and Maximo Patalinghug in Lapu-Lapu City before bikers cross the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge to Mandaue City where they will pedal through AC Cortes, Plaridel, Ouano Avenue, and Zuellig.

The bikers will have to take three laps of this course to complete the 90-kilometer biking leg.

There are at least 2,000 athletes expected to participate in the prestigious international triathlon that Cebu is hosting for the seventh straight year.

To ensure the safety of participants, Obon said more policemen will be deployed in the race route.

“Mas daghan pa gyud police ang ato ipakatap with the support and cooperation sa uban na grupo. Daghan organizations nga ni volunteer para ma-maintain sa kaayusan sa race,” he said.

LCPO will ask at least 500 augmentation force from the Police Regional Office-7 to beef up the security during the race.

"We will be maximizing (our security). While we are focused on the activity, the international event, dili nato pasagdan ang other parts ng city, ang mga business side,” he said.

On the other hand, at least 1,000 traffic enforcers, including barangay tanods and volunteers, will help man the traffic on that day.

Roads on the bike route will be closed at 5 a.m. and will be reopened at noon.

Jonathan Tumulak, the provincial government’s focal person for traffic, earlier said 11 barangays will be affected by the race – barangays Mactan, Maribago, Soong, Agos, Marigondon, Basak, Gun-ob, and Pajo in Lapu-Lapu City and Barangays Centro, Looc, and Mantuyong in Mandaue City.

He urged commuters to take the metro ferry to and from Mactan to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

Motorists, particularly those traveling to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, are also urged to travel a few hours early to avoid traffic gridlocks. (FREEMAN)