Pembrokeshire County Council has been working closely with the Welsh Government, Activity Wales, Dyfed-Powys Police, Public Health Wales and Hywel Dda University Health Board to plan for a pilot test event, the Wales Triathlon at Fishguard, to take place in a safe and controlled manner next month.

The proposed event, run by Activity Wales, takes place on June 12 and has been chosen by the Welsh Government as one of the proposed pilot test sporting and cultural events across Wales.

The Wales Triathlon event, if approved by Welsh Government, will be open strictly to registered participants only and spectators are not encouraged.

The pilot events will develop processes and guidance that will allow the safe return of events in Wales as coronavirus measures ease.

Clr. Phil Baker, the Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member whose portfolio includes Major Events, said: “From our first discussions on the Wales Triathlon, the safety of participants and the wider community has been the number one priority.

“We have convened several Event Safety Advisory Group meetings with partners to discuss the measures required and these meetings will continue over the coming weeks.

“The events industry is very important to Pembrokeshire and Wales as a whole. It is vital that these events are tested to ensure processes and guidance is developed for future events to take place in as safe a way as possible.”

Limited to a field of 500, the event will undergo a number of changes as part of the stepping stone back to events opening.

Crowds are not encouraged at the event and as a result, the start, transition and finish line areas will all become a sterile area.

The organisers have already had to cancel what would have been one of the biggest pro field events staged in the country and also all international athletes have been rolled to the 2022 event.

In addition, The Fishguard Swim Championships on June 11 and Sprint Triathlon on June 13 have been postponed to next year.

Matthew Evans of Activity Wales Events said: “We are delighted to be holding this event here in Pembrokeshire and welcoming athletes back.

“There is a huge skill set delivering major outdoor sporting events in Pembrokeshire and we are delighted to be working with the group once again.

“There is still a lot of work to be completed, but we are working closely with our government stakeholder group weekly, The MSOC group (Major Sports Operators Cymru), the Local Authority and will run the event through three Event Safety Advisory Group meetings, where traditionally there would be one.

“This is a real balancing act, as we need to remember that this is a vital process to see how events can integrate into a community in a controlled manner.

“Local hospitality will be open indoors a month before the event and it’s important that we work together with local businesses to maximise their opportunities.”