Young athletes will get to high-five shot-put star Valerie Adams as they cross the finish line of the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon at Pilot Bay on Friday.

Valerie will be handing out medals to all participants of the children's triathlon on January 8.

Sanitarium Weet-Bix TRYathlon 2015 competitors Alex Thompson, 10, Isabella Wilson, 10, show their medals. Photo: Cameron Avery.

New Zealand ironman triathlete Cameron Brown, NZ National Women's Rugby Sevens player Sarah Goss and Tri NZ High Performance Squad member Hamish Miller will join Valerie in handing out the medals.

Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon national ambassador Valerie Adams is looking forward to seeing the boost of confidence the event will give the children.

'Self-esteem for kids, or anyone for that matter, is so important and a great way to build self-esteem is to set goals and go about trying to achieve them. The Weet-Bix TRY is simply the perfect setting for that,” says the two-time Olympic shot put champion.

Starting at 10am, the children's triathlon challenges children aged seven to 15 to complete one of three distances for their age group.

Seven-year-olds complete a 50m swim, 4km cycle and 1.5km run, eight to 10-year-olds complete a 100km swim, 4km cycle, and 1.5km run, while 11-15-year-olds complete a 22m swim, 8km cycle and a 1.5km run.

New Zealand Women's Sevens captain Sarah Goss, a Mount Maunganui resident, will also be there to greet children at the finish line.

'It's great for kids to be involved, get active and participate in sports through the TRYathlons. I love seeing how satisfied the kids are as they run up the tunnel at the end and get their medals, and how much enjoyment their parents and supporters get from seeing them finish too.”

The Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon is the first event of the Mount Festival of Multisport from January 8-10, with children experiencing the big event in the same location as their Port of Tauranga Half heroes.

The 2016 Mount Festival of Multisport returns to Mount Maunganui for the second time, with a sports-filled scheduled including the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon, Port of Tauranga Half Ironman, Jetts Dash for Cash, Tri NZ Tag Team Champs, Mauao Fun Run, Tri Short Course and New Zealand Beach Volleyball Championships.

Mount Festival of Multisport director Lauren Watson expects about 3000 athletes, young and old, to take part in the multisport festival – and another 1500-2500 supporters to enter the area during the three-day event.

Lauren says holding a one-of-a-kind event like this in Mount Maunganui is pretty special.

'The synergies behind multisport, triathlon, paddle boarding, running and mount Maunganui fit really well.

'It's such an active, vibrant place and it's sort of the home of multisport. You've got some of the best athletes from around the country and some from around the world travelling into the region specifically for the event, so it's pretty special.”

The Port of Tauranga Half Ironman and Jetts Dash for Cash is on Saturday, January 9, while the Mauao Fun Run, Tri-Short Course and Tri NZ Tag Team Champs is on January 10.

The New Zealand Beach Volleyball Championships is at Mount Main Beach on January 9-10.

The Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon events are running throughout New Zealand from December 9, 2015, to April 10, 2016.

Participants can enter on the day at the admin tent at Coronation Park from 7am-8am.

For more information, visit try.weetbix.co.nz

Road closures:

As the Mount Festival of Multisport returns to the beachside suburb, SunLive wishes to advise residents of road closures around the area.

Friday, January 8:

- Salisbury Avenue from Victoria Road to The Mall closed to traffic from 5.30pm-4pm. The Mall from Prince Avenue to Adams Avenue – including the boat ramp and surrounds – as well as Prince Avenue from The Mall to Victoria Road, will also be closed.

- The Mall from Prince Avenue to Adams Avenue, including the Pilot Bay Boat Ramp, and Salisbury Avenue from Victoria Road to The Mall will be closed from 4.30am-3pm on Saturday, January 9.

- Prince Ave from The Mall to Victoria Road, Adams Ave from The Mall to Marine Parade, Marine Parade from Adams Avenue to Oceanbeach Road, Oceanbeach Road from Marine Parade to Yale Street, Yale Street from Oceanbeach Road to Maranui Street, Maranui Street/Papamoa Beach Road and from Yale Street to Sunrise Avenue will also be closed.

- From 5am to 3pm on Sunday, January 10, The Mall from Prince Avenue to Adams Avenue, including the Pilot Bay Boat Ramp, will be closed. Adams Avenue from The Mall to Maunganui Road and Maunganui Road from Adams Avenue to Pacific Avenue will also be closed to motorists from 5am-11.30am on Sunday.