For those who want to participate as an athlete or sponsor in the 48th annual Optimist Club of Coronado’s Sports Fiesta July 27-28, the time to sign up is now. The schedule is out and a few slots remain for participants to enter. 
The event raises funds that are then donated to local youth activities, including roughly 50 clubs, teams and projects, such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Coronado schools’ athletic teams and club teams, scholarship programs, robotics, oratorical and essay contests, Miracle League and many more. The Sports Fiesta is nearly entirely staffed by Optimist Club volunteers.
The Sports Fiesta features three main events: a mini-triathlon, a separate 5K and a separate 1-mile rough-water swim. Events are based at Sunset Park, but there is also a volleyball tournament on Main Beach and a Lawn Bowling tournament at the John D. Spreckels Center next to the Coronado Library.
The Sports Fiesta’s triathlon, which takes place July 27, is the longest continuously running triathlon in the U.S., predating Hawaii’s Iron Man by seven years. It includes a 400-yard ocean swim, a 1-mile run on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches and a 4-mile bike ride.
Businesses can take part as sponsors on a number of levels: Gold Medal Sponsors are those that contribute more than $1000. Silver Medal Sponsors provide between $400 and $999, and Bronze Medal Sponsors come in at $250 to $399. Sports Fiesta Contributors donate up to $250. This provides the bulk of annual funds the Optimist Club of Coronado distributes to the youth of Coronado.
To be a part of history while supporting Coronado’s youth, you can register as an athlete or sponsor at optimistclubofcoronado.org.
EVENTS
Last year’s popular Beach Volleyball tournament sold out, so it has been expanded from 16 to 24 teams. A few openings remain.
Lawn Bowling, also sold out last year, and promises to be popular again.
Thanks to input from athletes, the bike course, that traverses Naval Air Station North Island, has been vastly improved. Riders will enter the base’s gate at Sunset Park, pass the scenic golf course, and ride along the road closest to the ocean. They’ll ride two miles onto the base then turn around at the flight line and follow the course back to Sunset Park.
The most popular events are the triathlon, the 5K and the 1-Mile rough water swim. The top three males and top three females who participate in all events earn the coveted Hard Rock award.
48th Annual Optimist Club of Coronado Schedule of Events
Saturday, July 27
Registration, Sunset Park, Coronado
“day of” signups accepted
Triathlon
6am Triathlon check-in table opens
7am Triathlon Begins with swim at North Beach
5K Run
7:00-8:45am check-in table open-limited to first 300 entries
9:00 5K run begins
1-Mile Rough-Water Swim
North Beach
9:00-9:45 check-in table open-limited to first 100 entries
10:00am rough-water swim begins
Beach Volleyball, North Beach
7:30-8:30 Registration-limited to 24 teams
9:00 Tournament Play Begins
Sunday, July 28
Lawn Bowling
1pm Spreckels Center (next to library)
Get updated schedule details at https://optimistclubofcoronado.org/sports-fiesta/
All images courtesy of the Optimist Club of Coronado, and from the 2018 event.
