Clipper Ventures, which is chaired by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, agreed the £200,000 ($325,000/EUR286,200) deal with Liverpool City Council.
Liverpool will host the start and finish of the Clipper 2002, which will begin from the city's historic Albert Dock on Sunday October 27, 2002 and return 11 months later in September 2003.
In a separate deal, Liverpool will also help to sponsor one of the race's eight identical 60ft racing yachts.
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