Wollongong residents and businesses are reflecting on a week of global attention and local disruption following the 2025 World Triathlon Championship Finals.
The event, which which brought nearly 5,000 athletes and 15,000+ spectators to the city from 15 to 19 October, caused localised road closures, parking restrictions and altered routines in areas surrounding the course.
While the event showcased the Illawarra on the world stage, many locals such as a Cliff Road resident Mark Sullivan are still counting the cost of access issues during the event.
“I’m proud Wollongong hosted something of this scale, but it did throw daily life out of rhythm,” he said.
“It just depends on how long the disruption goes on and how well it’s managed.”
Meanwhile, businesses near the foreshore reported mixed results, with cafés and hotels reporting surges in customers, while others outside the race zone experienced quieter trade due to diversions.
Schools also felt the ripple effect, with St Mary’s Star of the Sea College moving online for two days, a decision which caused frustration and distraction for students such as Year 12 student Mila Camargo.
“It really annoyed me because I like going to school for the social factor,” she said.
“And also, I got really annoyed because we all had to put our uniforms on to sit in our own rooms.”
According to the City of Wollongong, more than 18 months of planning went into hosting the “crown jewel” of the World Triathlon’s annual calendar.
“We’ve been working for many years to clearly demonstrate that Wollongong is a fantastic city for holding world-class events,” Lord Mayor, Councillor Tania Brown, said.
Showing the city’s ongoing effort to build its reputation as a premier event destination.
However, headlines from across local media reveal community weariness, with some residents labelling the access situation “impossible”.
Although specific post-event consultation details are not readily available, the City of Wollongong has previously emphasised the importance of ongoing engagement within the community to address any impacts from major events.
“I’d like to see events that are planned with the local community front of mind, so that the disruption is minimal and the benefits are clear and distributed,” Mr Sullivan said.
As the barricades come down and traffic resumes, organisers face the challenge of turning short-term frustration into long-term growth.
The goal is to ensure Wollongong’s next world-class event leaves both visitors and locals on the same winning team.