Through this agreement, Eurosport Events becomes the Media Partner of the SolOceans and of the other sailing events organised by SailingOne (the Trophée Clairefontaine des Champions de Voile and the Final of the French Solo Offshore Racing Championship – Course des Falaises). Eurosport will handle the international distribution of worldwide media rights. These events will also receive extensive coverage through Eurosport's network on Eurosport, Eurosport World (Asia-Pacific), Eurosport 2, Eurosportnews and eurosport.com's sites.
"In 2006, we announced that the SolOceans would stand out from all other existing oceanic races through three important concepts: the equal opportunity for all competitors thanks to strictly identical equipment, sails included; the stringent control of all the parameters that go into a sailing race, including the guarantee of a controlled budget; and an important media coverage prior to the event" explains Yvan Griboval, designer and organiser of this event on behalf of SailingOne.
“Our partnership with SailingOne primarily marks the recognition of the work accomplished to date by Yvan Griboval and his company SailingOne, notably on the Trophée des Champions and the Course des Falaises. We are proud to participate at his side in this new world race, by assisting SailingOne with a global communication on the Eurosport platform and on all the world media, which will surely follow the SolOceans on its reconnaissance tour leaving France for New Zealand (October-December 2007), then New Zealand to France by Cape Horn (January-March 2008)”, adds Jacques Béhar, President and CEO of Eurosport Event.
The start of the first SolOceans is set for 25 October 2009. The SolOceans will then be run every two years. Beforehand, the first Veolia Oceans® will sail around the world for reconnaissance purposes, from October 2007 to March 2008.
