The Chinese city of Qingdao has signed an agreement to continue as a host port and team partner of the biennial Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
The deal will run through to the end of 2020, covering the next two editions of the race.
Qingdao first linked up with Clipper Ventures, the UK-based operator of the race, in 2005, and has been a host port and team partner for the past six editions of the event.
When Qingdao first sponsored the Clipper Race the city used the event as a focal point for building its credentials to host the sailing events during the Beijing 2008 summer Olympic Games.
Vice-Mayor of the Qingdao Municipal Government, Luan Xin, said: “Through our team partnership with a Qingdao yacht entry, the city brand and profile has been promoted worldwide and the fast growth of China's sailing city has been witnessed.”
