ONE of the biggest sporting events to come to Weymouth is taking place this weekend.

Both professional and amateur athletes have been training for months to race in the first ever Challenge Weymouth triathlon which will be held on Sunday.

And as thousands of people head to Weymouth to take part or cheer on their loved ones, organiser Alan Rose is calling on residents to get behind the event.

He said: “We hope people will turn out and show their support. From what we’ve seen over the 10 months we have been organising this event, it’s something that local businesses and people have really welcomed, which has made all the difference.

“So it would be great for people to come down and join in the atmosphere and just enjoy it.”

Registration and race briefings are taking place today and tomorrow ahead of the event on Sunday when 1,500 athletes will take part in both half and full-distance length triathlons, involving a swim in Weymouth Bay, a cycle out towards Wareham and back to Weymouth and a run around the town centre.

Medals for the half-distance event will be handed out on Sunday and an awards ceremony for the winners of the full-distance triathlon will take place at Weymouth Pavilion on Monday.

The event has attracted some of the most elite athletes who practise the sport, including Phil Mosley, who finished second in the Outlaw Triathlon in Nottingham earlier this year and Tom Solesbury, a former Olympic rower.

And Challenge Weymouth has already paved the way for a number of other elite sporting events in the town, such as the Weymouth Half Marathon in March next year and a cyclosportive event called the Dorset Smuggler in June.

Challenge Weymouth 2015 will also host the European long-distance championships.

Mr Rose said: “This event has been a long time in the planning. The preparation is all going great and we have a massive team on the ground here making sure it all runs smoothly.

“Obviously we are a little nervous, as anyone would be with a first-time event, but it is very real now and very exciting.”

He thanked the people of Weymouth for making the team feel welcome during the months of preparation.

Organisers are asking people who are taking part or going along as spectators to walk or use the park and ride service wherever possible.

A number of roads and car parks will be closed on Sunday while the event is taking place.