Review Faults Port for Triathlon Failure

A city review of an aborted attempt in 1988 by the Port of Los Angeles to begin holding an annual triathlon faults port officials for poor internal communication and inadequate fund raising.

City officials said they have learned from the mistakes and will recommend today that the City Council select a private firm to stage the Los Angeles International Triathlon. The proposal for the annual three-event endurance race, to include swimming, bicycling and running, is expected to win easy approval.

The review concludes that the Board of Harbor Commissioners “appears to have acted responsibly” when it allocated $100,000 for the failed event. But it criticizes port staff for not holding executive level briefings on mounting problems and for “limited” coordination between the marketing and public relations departments.