"As one of the world's most influential professional sailing events, Volvo Ocean Race has set to raise parts of its competitions in China during the 2008-2009 season, which makes the history on both the race itself and the development of sailing in China," said Wei Di, Director of China Water Sports Administration Center.
"Following the Beijing Olympics held in 2008, the arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race will definitely accelerate the development of water sports in China," added Wei, who signed an agreement with the race's organising company the Volvo Event Management.
Glenn Bourke, Chief Executive to Volvo Event Management as well as the VOR, said, “the Race is an event integrating technology, intelligence and perseverance, reflecting the real sports spirit - passion, innovation, adventure and world-class teamwork. We are grateful for China's support in providing us an opportunity to bring the race to this region.”
Favourites to host the Chinese stopovers are Qingdao, which will hold the sailing tournaments during the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, and Shanghai.
"Nothing is decided yet, just as we negotiate with the Chinese part while looking at a number coastal cities in China," said Bourke. "We'll select the suitable sites according to the wind conditions."
"It would be logical to visit Qingdao, the sailing site during the Beijing Olympics, and in the spot functionally they work for the race," he added.
According to the organisers, the host city has to meet certain criteria. Economic development level, construction of port facilities, commercial and
cultural influence of the city, expertise for organising the stopover and the in-port race will be taken into consideration.
The 2008-2009 race will start from Alicante Port, Spain in October 2008, going through Africa, Middle East, Asia, South America, North America,
Europe to a Baltic port finish. The 10-member crews race aboard the Volvo Open 70, the fastest monohull ocean racing yacht in the world. The fleet will arrive in China around the spring festival in 2009 and stay for about three weeks during which various activities such as in-port race
between the fleet will take place.
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