EDMONTON — Organizers at the World Triathlon Championship are excited to be able to welcome spectators at the event in Edmonton later this summer.

The championship and other events will take place August 20-22 at Hawrelak Park.

The event will not only feature world-class racing but include community events for all ages, including a kids’ splash and dash, an open water swim, American Ninja Warrior, corporate triathlon, and open amateur triathlon.

In addition, the Edmonton Urban Cycling Fondo community bike race will take place on a closed course. Participants will enjoy a route travelling through the river valley and have a variety of distance options.

Stephen Bourdeau, general manager at World Triathlon Edmonton, said the event will have different races and events for anyone and everyone. The main highlight will be the World Triathlon Championship.

Edmonton has typically hosted a world series event, not a finals event.

“This is the big show,” Bourdeau said.

The competition will see about 200 athletes from 40 different countries swim, run, and cycle their way around Hawrelak Park and central Edmonton.

The triathlon was originally scheduled last summer but was delayed due to the pandemic. Originally, organizers had planned to host it as a closed bubble event to ensure athletes could still compete safely.

Bourdeau said while triathlons have still been running in the past eight months, now fans will be able to share in the competition.

“It is huge that we got the news that spectators could come down and watch the event,” he said.

“These are the best athletes in the world. But they have been racing behind a curtain, without that lift and benefit of a crowd. It’s great that we’re able to be the first race in a long time for these athletes to be able to race in front of spectators.”

Seats in grandstands for the elite events will be free but spectators are asked to register in advance. Reservation will be done online, on a first come, first serve and available closer to the event. People will also be able to watch along the course.

“We are ecstatic that Edmontonians, and Albertans, will be able to participate and enjoy.”

EDMONTON — A handful of bicyclists bared it all on Saturday to help raise awareness about bicycle safety.

The event in Edmonton was part of World Naked Bike Rides, a series of clothing-optional public protests held around the world to encourage bicycle safety. Similar events have been held in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Paul Gagnon, an event organizer, told CTV News Edmonton in an interview that the group wanted to highlight bike safety.

“There’s 2,700 connections between bikes and cars in this country,” he said. “A lot of that with a change in infrastructure could be avoided.”

The group wants to continue to see separated bike lanes throughout the entire city.

Gagnon said that being naked for the bike ride helps show the vulnerability of cyclists as they share the road with motorists.

“It attracts attention to the message,” he said. “It’s fun to participate.”

Riders gathered at Light Horse Park and travelled through intersections in central Edmonton where the most cyclist-vehicle collisions have occurred.

EDMONTON — Another airshow will be coming to the Edmonton area later this summer.

The Alberta International Airshow, previously known as the Edmonton Airshow, will take place Aug. 20to 22 at the Villeneuve Airport.

The name change of the event was made to reflect the scale of regional and provincial organizers and participants, event coordinator RWE Events said.

Some of the military acts scheduled to perform at the event include the Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 demo team, the United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II demo and UH-1 Huey search and rescue demo, as well asa flyover from a B-52 and B-1B “Bone” bombers.

Other acts include local pilot Bill Carter, Yellow Thunder, and Mrazek Airshow, with further acts to be announced.

Ticket sales will open on Tuesday for the event.

“The return of the Alberta International Airshow could not have been more timely – showcasing all we have to offer as we reopen,” said MLA for Lac St. Anne-Parkland Shane Getson in a statement. “I join everyone in welcoming all, local, national, and international, to discover the power and promise that is Alberta.”

Tom Ruth, Edmonton Airports president and CEO, said he was pleased to welcome the return of the airshow.

“The Alberta International Airshow is an exciting event for the community, and it attracts tourism to our region and promotes the aviation industry and investment opportunities at Villeneuve Airport and the surrounding area,” Ruth said in a statement.

The Villeneuve Airport is located in Sturgeon County, Alta., on Highway 44, about 10 kilometres northwest of Edmonton’s city limits.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers swapped their first-round pick before selecting forward Xavier Bourgault 22nd overall in the NHL entry draft Friday.

The six-foot, 172-pound centre had 40 points (20 goals, 20 assists) in 29 games for the Shawinigan Cataractes in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season.

Bourgault was the No. 13-ranked North American skater heading into the draft.

The Oilers originally had the No. 20 pick in the first round but dealt it to the Minnesota Wild for the 22nd and the 90th.

The Wild used the 20th slot on Swedish goalie Jesper Wallstedt.

Edmonton will have some time to kill when the draft continues with the second round Saturday. The club’s next pick is No. 90, coming in the third round, followed by Nos. 116, 180, 186 and 212.

The Oilers finished second in the North Division last season with a 35-19-2 record but were swept from the first round of the playoffs by the Winnipeg Jets.

Edmonton used the 14th overall pick on centre Dylan Holloway at the 2020 draft.

The 19-year-old Calgary native played at the University of Wisconsin last season, putting up 35 points (11 goals and 24 assists) in 23 games.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2021.

EDMONTON — Two Edmonton Oil Kings players were selected early in the first round of the 2021 National Hockey League entry draft Friday evening.

Forward Dylan Guenther was picked ninth and goaltender Sebastian Cossa was drafted 15^th overall on the first day of the draft.

The Arizona Coyotes selected Guenther using their first-round selection. The Edmonton native finished this past season with 12 goals and assists and ranked first among all Western Hockey League (WHL) players in points per-game.

Guenther has played 78 career games with the Oil Kings and represented Canada at the 2021 IIHF U18 World Championships where he helped the team achieve a gold medal. In seven tournament games he recorded three goals and four assists.

The Detroit Red Wings selected Cossa with their first-round pick.

Cosa, a Fort McMurray native, finished this past season with a 17-1-0-1 record and had a 0.941 save percentage with four shutouts. He was rated as the top WHL goalie for goals against average, save percentage, and number of shutouts.

The goalie was also recognized as the WHL’s Central Division Goaltender of the Year and 2021 Oil Kings MVP.

The two 18-year-old players become the 20^th and 21^st players in modern Oil Kings’ history to be selected in the NHL draft.