The swim leg will start from Queens Wharf, with the run and cycle legs raced over a city circuit, and Triathlon New Zealand (TNZ) chief executive Dave Beeche is confident that the likes of Brownlee will turn-up despite the fact the race is scheduled for October - just two months after the London 2012 Olympics.

He said: "The theory is that if they win, they're in good form and they want to capitalise on that and there is significant prize money on offer for this event and if they didn't do well in London, the idea is they'll probably want to redeem themselves and come down for the world champs. These guys are professional athletes.

"They live on the prize money and how well they're doing."

The announcement that Auckland has been awarded the event is a boost for the city after its hopes of bidding for the 2018 Commonwealth Games were scuppered by lack of Government support.

The event is expected to have an economic impact of NZ$31 million (£14.5 million), claimed New Zealand's Economic Minister Gerry Brownlee.

He said: "Up to NZ$900,000 (£424,000) has been awarded from the Major Events Development Fund to enable Triathlon New Zealand to host and deliver the grand final in October 2012, and an associated test event which will be held in late 2011 or early 2012 in Auckland.

"As an outdoor event, the Triathlon World Championships Series grand final will provide excellent opportunities to showcase New Zealand to international audiences."

In addition to hosting the elite men's and women's grand final, TNZ would host up to seven other triathlon events across a four- to five-day period.

A sporting festival would also be developed around these events with the event hub at Auckland's Queen's Wharf.


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March 2010: New Zealand Government rejects Auckland Commonwealth Games bid