A remarkable situation is unfolding in Nice, France, where newly installed mayor Eric Ciotti announced during a press conference that he intends to cut approximately sixty million euros from the city budget by canceling various events. These include the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in the second weekend of September and a UTMB event two weeks later. According to Ironman, which responded a few days later, the Ironman 70.3 World Championship will take place no matter what.
Ciotti aims to significantly reduce taxes for residents, but this requires numerous substantial budget cuts. Among other measures, Ciotti wants to slash civil servant salaries – which in some cases must decrease by as much as 25 percent – and is potentially cutting costs related to company cars, security, and free parking for this group. Events are also not exempt from the proposed round of cuts, as Ciotti made clear, citing the Ironman 70.3 World Championship as a specific example. By no longer hosting the event, the city of Nice would reportedly save about 1.6 million euros. The plans presented by the mayor must still be approved by the city council and are therefore not yet final.
Ironman has since responded via a brief online statement, indicating that Ironman Nice, Ironman 70.3 Nice, and the Ironman 70.3 World Championship Nice will all take place on their scheduled dates. Interestingly, within this context, Ironman also states that this is being done in cooperation with the city of Nice. Additionally, Ironman mentioned they are in ongoing discussions with Mayor Ciotti to explore how Ironman can support the city of Nice.
