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In short:
About 3,000 athletes are set to compete in the World Triathlon Multisport World Championships in Townsville.
It's the first time the 11-day event has been held in Australia.
What's next?
Townsville Enterprise says the festival will inject more than $11 million into the economy.
Thousands of international athletes have descended upon a north Queensland city in preparation for the "Mount Everest" of high-endurance sports.
The World Triathlon Multisport World Championships is the largest mass sporting event ever to be held in Townsville, attracting 3,000 competitors from nearly 40 countries.
Taking place from August 15–25, it's the first time the 11-day event has been held in Australia.
It has previously been hosted by Canada, Denmark and Spain.
Tourism operators say the event will deliver a multi-million-dollar economic boost to the city and set the stage for regional Queensland to share in events ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
'Pinnacle of many people's career'
Hannah Storm has travelled more than 15,000 kilometres from the United Kingdom to conquer her personal "Mount Everest" — the duathlon, which is a combination of cycling and running.
The event is one of 19 World Championship races on the roster, including long-distance triathlon, aquabike, aquathon and cross triathlon.
It's the first time Storm, a former BBC journalist, will compete on the world stage.
"This is like the pinnacle of many people's career, especially if they're not elite athletes," she said.
"It's going to be every woman and every man for themselves".
Storm only took up cycling two years ago, after an injury forced her to retire from training for a marathon.
She said adapting to the "humid" conditions of north Queensland would be a challenge.
"I live in Yorkshire and for the last six months we've probably had maybe 15 days of sunshine," she said.
"You couldn't have a greater difference … but it's so beautiful."
Putting Townsville on the map
The city's peak tourism operator, Townsville Enterprise, said the event had been in the pipeline since before COVID-19 swept the country, and had been beset by delays.
Director of visitor economy Lisa Woolfe said visiting athletes and their families had booked out 41,000 nights' worth of accommodation.
"Not to mention the $11 million in economic [benefit] it will generate for the city," she said.
"This is a globally broadcast event so it will be streamed right across the world."
The festival will see traffic halted along the popular beachfront promenade The Strand and Pallarenda Beach, offering competitors views of Magnetic Island.
Two traffic islands have been removed by the local council to complete the running track.
Head of operations for the championships Rebecca van Pooss said hosting the event in Townsville would showcase a part of Queensland that often escaped the limelight for international visitors.
"It's a little further away from the big smoke," she said.
Ms van Pooss said the international governing body, World Triathlon, conducted a lengthy selection process before awarding Townsville the successful tender.
"They don't bring their sport to just anywhere," she said.
"Townsville is really going to be put on the map in the triathlon world."
Eyes on the north
State Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said the festival demonstrated regional Queensland's ability to host world-class events in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
"The exciting events we've watched … with the Olympics in Paris had reignited us into what 2032 will look like," Mr Stewart said.
"It really sets us up as a great training venue for the years in the lead up to the Olympics."
Townsville's $293 million Queensland Country Bank Stadium, which has hosted Elton John and P!nk, has already been slated to host a number of Olympic soccer matches.
"This really will help us … prove to the world on another stage how good we are at running these events," Mr Stewart said.
An opening ceremony and parade of nations will be held in Townsville today to begin the championships.