Media Guidelines

Please ensure that you take note of the following important changes to the media operations. These regulations differ from previous years and will be implemented strictly. Media accreditation is subject to rules set by World Endurance South Africa.

Area Stipulations

Swim Start

No members of the media will be allowed to move in front of the starting cannon. This is purely for safety reasons.

Pier

Ironman South Africa staff will be on hand with a list of media who are allowed access to the pier. Should your name not be on this list, you will not be allowed access to the pier.

Along the course

Media can cover the event along the course via motorbike, car or from amongst the crowd. If you are not wearing your media identification, you will be removed from the course by referees (This applies to motorbikes and cars as well).

Finish Line

Main media access area, secondary media access area and media tent. Please see course descriptions.

See Access Area Descriptions.

General Stipulations

Official Media Representation

All media will be required to provide press identification (proof of employment) when they register at the Media Office.

Following of specific athletes

No members of the media will be allowed to physically follow one athlete specifically. Members of the media have to cover the race as per normal. Accreditation to cover a specific athlete will only be issued should Ironman South Africa benefit from the coverage. Members of the media cannot request motorbike or car drivers to follow or find a specific athlete.

Members of the media who are family of, partners or team mates of athletes will not be issued with media accreditation without valid press identification – please see point above: Official Media Representation.

Statement of work intentions

All members of the media must state the intentions of their work clearly on the online application form. This includes linking their intended work with the media organisation where they are employed. For example: If you work for organization X, work done at the event must be used for organization X’s purposes. Members of the media thus cannot use their press identification in order to carry out personal work/ projects.

Bike/Car/Boat Access

You must please indicate on the media registration form whether you would like access to a bike, car or boat on race day. When going through the registration forms, we will set up a schedule and let you know which timeslot you have been allocated. Please stick to this time allocation, because if you are not at the respective pick-up point, we will unfortunately have to give your slot away to someone on a reserve list. Please note, although we try our best to adhere to the allocated time schedule, the nature of the event is such that there may be slight deviations from the time schedule and we have no control of the vehicles once they have left for the course. We kindly ask for your patience in this regard.

Please note: Cars are only allowed on the bike course and are not allowed to go past the Old Cash Store aid station towards the turn-around point (please see bike course map). Cars will not be allowed on the run course at all. Motorbikes however will be allowed access to the run and bike legs of the race.

Pick-up points

Motorbikes

On the side of the Beach Hotel (going towards the back parking area). Bikes will be parked outside the side entrance.

Cars

For loop 1, cars will be parked at the Caltex garage next to the Boardwalk. For loops 2 and 3, cars will be parked at the back parking of the Beach Hotel.

Boats

The boat will leave from Hobie Beach at the far right of the Swim Start. Members of the media should be at the pick-up point at least half an hour before the race starts.

Description of areas of access

Swim Start

Hobie Beach. Members of the media will be allowed to take photographs in front of the Swim Start until 10 minutes before. Thereafter they will have to move to a set designated area. No members of the media will be allowed to move in front of the starting cannon. This is purely for safety reasons. See map.

Pier

There will be Ironman South Africa staff on hand with a list of media who are allowed access to the pier. Should your name not be on this list, you will not be allowed access to the pier.

Along the course

Media can cover the event along the course via motorbike, car or from amongst the crowd. If you are not wearing your media identification, you will be removed from the course by referees (This applies to motorbikes and cars as well). Please note: Cars are only allowed on the bike course and are not allowed to go past the Old Cash Store aid station towards the turn-around point (please see bike course map).

Once cars have left the from the Caltex Garage, they will not be allowed to go back along Marine Drive but will have to leave through the service entrance at the Boardwalk and go up 2nd Avenue, turn left into Strandfontein Road, turn left into La Roche Drive before rejoining the course on Walmer Boulevard. Cars will not be allowed on the run course at all. Motorbikes however will be allowed access to the run and bike legs of the race.

Finish Line

Main media access area, secondary media access area and media tent. Please see course descriptions.

Identification markers

• Media Lanyards – Blue media lanyards
• Media Tags – Blue media tags
• Media Bibs – Orange media bibs
• Finish line access tags – Dark Green tags
• Transition Area access tags – Red tags

All accredited media will receive media lanyards, tags and bibs. You must wear these at all times during race day to ensure that you get access to the media accredited areas. Finish Line access tags will be given to specific media only (this includes national media, media partners, invited media and official Ironman South Africa media) and will allow them access to the Finish Line (main area). The general media will only be allowed limited access to the finish line area and will be stationed in a cordoned-off area behind the main area. You are kindly requested to please remain within the cordoned-off areas to which you are allocated, and not move to the main area if you do not have this access i.e. finish line tag. Any media personnel not wearing the provided identification markers will be removed from the course by security personnel, Ironman South Africa staff or referees.

Only official Ironman South Africa media personnel will be issued with Transition access tags. All other media will not be allowed in the Transition Area, no exceptions will be made. Please see Prohibited Areas.

Finish Line

Main Media Access Area at the finish line

‘Podium’ blocks will be set up at the finish area. These blocks mark the end of the allocated area in which the media will have to remain. The furthest right block marks the boundary of the allocated area.

Secondary Media Access Area at the finish line

The secondary area is situated +/- 10 metres behind the main finish area and will be cordoned-off.

It is of paramount importance that media remain in their allocated areas at all times. Should any member of the media fail to adhere to this, he/she will be removed from the finish area completely. Visible security personnel and members of the Ironman South Africa staff will be on hand to ensure that members of the media remain in their allocated areas.

Finish line photos will be uploaded to a server immediately after the winners (top 3 male / female) finish and will be made available to members of the media upon request at the Media Centre.

Media Tent

The media tent is situated to the right of the finish line area (next to the VIP tent). All members of the media at the finish line (main and secondary media access areas) will be allowed to conduct interviews with the top athletes inside the media tent.

Photographic stipulations

• Ironman South Africa reserves the right to use any photographic material obtained during the event. Photo credits will be supplied with any use of photos by Ironman South Africa.

• No photographic company and/or photographer are allowed to sell or distribute photos to athletes. FinisherPix, the official athlete photograph service or World Endurance Holdings, reserves the sole right to sell images to athletes.

• Media requesting bike access will be asked what type of camera equipment they will be using. (Due to limited resources, this is to ensure that the correct media are granted access to bikes and prevents people from using inferior cameras/mobile phones while on the bike.)

Prohibited Areas*

In front of Finish Line (red carpet)

With the exception of FinisherPix (official Ironman South Africa athlete photographer service), NO media will be allowed in front of the finish line arch.

Transition Area

With the exception of official Ironman South Africa media, NO media will be allowed in the Transition Area. (Members of the media are free to take photos during bike check-in on the Saturday before race day).

VIP Tent

NO media will be allowed in the VIP Tent, unless they are in possession of a VIP access card and tag.

*Should anyone transgress these stipulations, he/she will be removed by security and will be prohibited from covering any future World Endurance South Africa races.

These measures are in place to ensure the smooth running of the event. We thank you for your cooperation and patience in this regard and look forward to working with you at a great event.