KAILUA-KONA — With thousands of athletes and their families descending on West Hawaii for the Ironman World Championship this Saturday, security is a great concern.
This year, Ironman is partnering with the Department of Homeland Security promoting their “See Something, Say Something” campaign.
Approximately 2,500 athletes hailing from 75 countries, regions and territories around the world are slated to take on the Ironman World Championship that gets underway early Saturday with a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and then 26.2-mile run, according to Ironman.
Welcoming and open events and venues remain an attractive target for criminals and those seeking maximum damage with a low probability of being caught or stopped, according to Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection Brian Harrell.
They are by design, less secure, which makes them “soft targets,” he said via email. Securing open and public venues challenges traditional risk management measures, both because of the sheer volume of targets and because of the desire to promote, rather than restrict, access to public places.
“The answer is not to turn soft targets into fortresses, but to protect life and property, while maintaining safety,” he said.
The DHS “See Something, Say Something” campaign has been adopted across the country, and the Ironman World Championship has embraced this as a general call-to-action when encountering suspicious behavior.
Ironman security is present on race day in restricted zones that require access passes and has established a no-bag policy in those areas, which include the pier transition area and finish line.
In the safety side, Big Island police have cited three triathletes and responded to two crashes involving cyclists ahead of the Ironman World Championship.
