China has been officially confirmed as a stopover for the 2008-09 race as part of the event’s expansion into new territories.
A number of Chinese coastal cities will now vie for the right to be selected as host port when the race visits Chinese waters in February 2009.
Glenn Bourke, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, was joined by representatives of the China Water Sports Administration Center (CWSA) and the China Yachting Association (CYA) in making the announcement in Beijing.
The race organizers and the CYA have also entered into a co-operation agreement to promote sailing in China. The deal will include a Chinese entry in the race.
Bourke said: “We are grateful for China’s support in providing us an opportunity to bring the world’s premier ocean race to this region. China is a strong sports country with long coastline and millions of sports fans. We believe the race will heighten the interest and participation in sailing in China and Asia.”
Mr. Wei Di, the director of CWSA, said he was delighted that the race would be coming to China. “It is a professional international sailing event, and the arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race will accelerate the development of water sports in China.”
The fleet will arrive in China at the time of the local spring festival in 2009. The stopover will include an in-port race. A number of events are planned for the three-week duration of the stopover.
The agreement is the culmination of months of negotiations with the Chinese authorities to bring the race to Asia. Further talks are continuing with government and port representatives in India and the Middle East with further announcements expected in the coming months.
