The Sylvan Lake Triathlon Club got its Special Event Application to hold a triathlon on Aug. 4 approved by its local town council this week.

As many as 550 athletes could be participating, along with more than 200 spectators.

“It is a family-oriented event that will attract families to central Alberta for the weekend,” says Cathy Forner, race director.

Forner says this year's race includes one event the sport hasn't seen called an Age Group Mixed Relay.

It’s a team event with both male and female athletes who each do a 300m swim, eight kilometre bike ride and a 2 km run.

“That’s never been done before and it’s really rejuvenating the sport of triathlon,” Forner says.

The races would take place at Lakeshore Park, with many of the routes heading west through town.

A portion of Lakeshore Drive would be closed but Forner says because of the event's 6:45 a.m. start time and 2 p.m. finish, the impact would be minimized.

She says she’s been consulting local businesses on how they can benefit from the activity as well.

“There’s lots of opportunity for them to engage the visitors that are actually coming to town,” Forner says.

The charity Jumpstart is an event partner and will be a beneficiary of money raised from the race.