The inaugural Challenge Cairns, set to take place on 5 June, has received a boost with the announcement that Cairns Airport has partnered with event organisers USM EVENTS and signed on to be naming rights sponsor of the event.

The three-year sponsorship deal will see Cairns Airport as the naming rights partner for both Challenge Cairns and the Cairns Adventure Festival.

Cairns Airport Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Gregg, said these events represent a unique opportunity for the Cairns region.

WATCH FOOTAGE FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT (Left)

“We share a vision with USM EVENTS for Challenge Cairns and Cairns Adventure Festival to rival other great Australian sporting events. The potential is there for these to become major national and international adventure sports icons,” Mr Gregg said.

“They are an exciting addition to the region’s growing sports tourism offer with the expectation that they will attract thousands of visitors over the next few years…"

“This is something that the entire local community can get involved in too, whether as participants, volunteers or spectators,” Mr Gregg said.

USM EVENTS Managing Director Geoff Meyer welcomed the appointment of Cairns Airport as naming rights sponsor of this significant event in North Queensland.

“We look forward to working closely with Cairns Airport to establish a world-class event, unlike any other in Australia.

“By partnering with Cairns Airport we hope to engage the local community and have them involved in all aspects of the event from participating to volunteering to coming along and cheering on the world’s best iron-distance athletes,” Mr Meyer said.

"Sporting events of this nature bolster the tourism industry around the event and by return visitation. The other major benefit is the huge economic impact these types of events have on the local community, evidenced by the world renowned Noosa and Mooloolaba Triathlon Festivals that now rely on these sporting events each year.“

Cairns Airport Challenge Cairns has already attracted participants from around the globe including France, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, UK, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Kenya, and Australia.