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The Race

The second stop of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series will be the first opportunity of the season for amateur athletes to compete on the same streets as the world’s top triathletes. The action-packed weekend in Seoul will kick off with both the men’s and women’s elite races on Saturday followed by a Sprint-and Olympic-distance age-group race on Sunday.

The Han River Park in the centre of the Yeoido Financial Centre will act as race headquarters, providing age-group athletes sweeping views of Seoul’s world-renowned architecture throughout the race. Age-group athletes will complete two 750-meter swim laps before taking to the northern riverfront for the 40-km (two lap) bike leg. After making their second transition, athletes will complete a 10-km, single-lap run along the south shore of the Han River.

The City

Home to over ten million people, Seoul will be the largest city to host an ITU event in 2010. The Seoul National Capital Area, which includes the major port city of Incheon and most of Gyeonggi-do, has a total of 24.5 million inhabitants, making it the world’s second largest metropolitan area. Seoul was named the 2010 World Design Capital by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design in recognition of the city’s stunning modern architecture. Korea’s capital has hosted a number of international sporting events, including the 1998 Summer Olympics and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Getting There

Incheon International Airport has direct flights from a number of locations in Asia, Europe, Australia and North America. Public transit is the best way to get around Seoul once you get there, as Downtown Seoul is very densely populated and traffic often sits at a standstill. From the airport you can get to Downtown via taxi, railway or airport shuttle bus.

Where to Stay

The renowned Seoul Lexington Hotel (thelexington.co.kr) is the official host hotel for race weekend, offering luxurious rooms and premium accommodations. Other hotels close to the race venue include the Stay Seven Primer Hotel (stay7.com/premier/premier_01.asp) and Yoido Hotel (yoidohotel.co.kr). For additional information on local accommodations, please contact Ms. Kim Seong Eun of Huemarket Travel at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Be Sure to Visit…

Gyeongbok Palace, originally built in the late 1300s, is one of Seoul’s most iconic buildings and is definitely worth the quick visit. The Palace is the former seat of Korean royalty and offers a great opportunity to learn about early Korean architechture. English tours are available daily.

Shinsegae’s downtown department store is a unique shopping experience, even if you don’t by anything. The lower level features a mammoth food court with traditional Korean fare prepared fresh every day. Grab some kimchi, then head to Shinsegae’s rooftop garden for a relaxing break from the busy city streets.

The Namdaemun Market is a must-visit location while in Seoul. It’s a classic Korean market on a grand scale, featuring relatively inexpensive jewelry, toys, fabrics and street food. Be sure to sample the bindae duk, a fried mung-bean pancake. The market is accessible via the Hoehyeon Station on subway line 4.