Valencian
language to be used at the Cup ? (17/09/04) (source
: Panorama
Actual)
Les Cortes Valencianas, the regional parliament
of Valencia on Thursday unanimously agreed to ask
the Spanish government to consider using the Valencian
dialect as an official language at the America's
Cup.
The parliament said it wanted to ask Madrid to consider
the request in order to "aid the diffusion of our
language and culture worldwide."
Valencian is broadly similar to Catalan, and the
latter in particular is widely spoken.
549
million euros for the America's Cup ... (09/16/04)
(source :
Masmar&
Kiwinews.co.nz)
This is the amount of the Generalitat Valenciana
investment for the 32nd America's Cup in Valencia,
announced today by Francisco Camps, President of
the Valencian Government.
The Cup is expected to have a major impact on the
local economy, and according to statistics provided
by the Valencia Cup 2007 consortium, over 10,000
new jobs will be created and generate €1,500
million for the region.
Apart from the economic aspects, the mere fact of
being host city for such an important media event
will provide long term benefits for Valencia for
years to come, similar to what happened to Barcelona
during the 1992 Olympics.
The America’s Cup Regatta 2003 in Auckland injected
an extra NZ$529 million (about €290 million)
into the New Zealand economy, according to an economic
impact study released in December by America’s Cup
Minister Trevor Mallard and Tourism Minister Mark
Burton.
The
progress of works in AC Valencia port (08/11/04)
(source :
Las
Provincias)
After a six months period of prequalification
and tendering, the Committee Valencia 2007awarded
in July the first project to the Spanish building
firm Cyes (with a Euro 5,1 budget) and work begun
immediatly at the future America's Cup Village.
These works, which consist of the re-structuring of
230 metres of dock length, include all the necessary
facilities for the hosting of the America's Cup pre-regattas.
The work also includes the building of a pile-based
platform and the infrastructure for the installation
of two 50-tonne travel lifts.
If the committee has cancelled the tender procedure
for the canal connecting the port directly to the
sea, seven others tenders/contracts were now awarded
and work will start very soon.
The big question is now whether all the projects will
be completed in time for Acts 2 and 3, which are scheduled
to be held in October.
Rumours
about the AC host city (07/13/04)
(source :
Boot.de)
Since last October, when Valencia won the competition
to host the world's most prestigious yachting event,
there has been joy, sorrow and much confusion surrounding
the event.
The joy was nowhere more evident than with the mayoress
of the City, Rita Barbera, of the Partido Popular
party. Then PM Jose Aznar was also pleased for the
city and sent members of his government to Valencia
bearing offers of great financial support.
However, on March 11 2004, bombings in Madrid brought
the socialists into power and the new Aznar's replacement,
Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero, seemed less keen on
the elite yachting event.
The change in government threw into doubt the legitimacy
of the Valencia 2007 Consortium that had been formed
to oversee the infrastructure for the America's Cup.
The Consortium consisted of Jose Salinas, executive
director and Mayoress Barbera as president. Four people
from the Valencia government, four from the Aznar
government and two from the Valencia Town Hall formed
the Consortium Committee.
Rumours have been circulating that the Zapatero government
intends to move the America's Cup to Barcelona where
he has strong political following. There are also
rumours that money earmarked for a grant to Valencia
for infrastructure.
Peter Rusch, spokesman for America's Cup management,
stated emphatically that the rumours are only rumours
and that the host city of the 32nd America's Cup is
Valencia. He also emphasized that the work at America's
Cup Valencia Port is about to start.
A project for the raising of Valencia Port Inner Dock
Customs Breakwater, submitted by building firm Cyes
with a Euro 5,121,669.32 budget has just been approved.
If this goes ahead it will mark the beginning of a
series of planned works to adapt Valencia Port to
the requirements of the 32nd America's Cup Competition.
A total of 12 proposals had been submitted for these
works, which consist of the re-structuring of 230
metres of dock length including all the necessary
facilities for the hosting of the America's Cup pre-regattas
to be held in Valencia next October. The work also
includes the building of a pile-based platform and
the infrastructure for the installation of two 50-tonne
travel lifts.
Nine floating jetties of different sizes will also
be built for use by America's Cup class yachts and
other support vessels. It remains to be seen if these
projects will be completed in time for Acts 2 and
3, which are scheduled to be held in October.
Valencia
strives to fulfill its commitments (06/22/04)
(source :
Las
Provincias)
If Zapatero has pledged the Spanish government's
full support of the America's Cup, his election have
undoubtedly weaken the close ties between Valencia
and Madrid.
The first participation of socialist representatives
(leaded by Minister of Public Administration, Jordi
Sevilla) in Valencia 2007, the Committee that is charged
with setting up the infrastructures, has just took
place and the result is quite effecting.
The government agrees to participate in the €600
million program for ACM and the infrastructures, but
the other investments (€1000 million, in particular
in renewing the city) will lead to intensive debates.
It was announced that the Spanish Credit Organization
ICO would offer
Valencia an immediate credit of €110 million
but, despite this, the meeting broke up without any
clear direction as to how the event is to be financed.
Meanwhile, another important decision the committee
made was to cancel the tender procedure for the 800-metre
canal connecting the Port directly to the sea.
In order to withdraw the planned prolongation of the
motorway network (with this decision, Jordi Sevilla
expects to save €80 million and 8 months*) it's
said but the environnemental questions is certainly
important.
About the construction, the Spanish Government said
that "all the possible options are considered
to find the least harmful solution".
* the delivery
date is now July 1st, 2005
The
construction of the canal into question (05/25/04)
(source :
Las
Provincias)
The construction of the 800-metre canal connecting
the Port directly to the sea could be affected as
Valencia 2007 has yet received four proposals In
response to the notice published March 1st, 2004.
Considering the Environmental Impact Statement which
was just released to the public, nine residents
groups claim the construction will adversely affect
natural coastal landforms.
According to the Report, the canal will cause negative
long-term erosion affects on the north beaches.
Meanwhile, sand will be transported to the South,
and accumulates in the large sand beaches called
"Playa de Pinedo" and "playa de El Saler".
The late release of this report is a little bit
surprising giving that the canal connecting the
upgraded and renewed Port directly to the sea was
one of the main part of the valencia bid.
The 32nd America's Cup Race area has now been
established, thus meeting one of the "terms
of challenge" clauses.
The race area will extend, from north to south from
Puebla de Farnals to Perelló (some 15 nautical miles)
and cover some 12 nautical miles eastwards to meridian
000 º 2,5’ West, with a resulting area of 180 nautical
miles.
If over 13 teams were eventually to register, the
area would be extanded a further 3 miles northwards
and six miles southwards to Cullera Cape.
From now on this piece of sea, with an area
of approximatively 600 square Km, will be the most
closely studied portion of the World with a real-time
weather observation and analysis network available
to all participants at all times.
For the first time in the history of the cup, the
race area will be signalled with 20 buoys equipped
with the most up-to-date for weather observation
and analysis.
In the meantime, fifty-five days after the Socialists
won the general elections, the new Government still
has not named the four delegates that it intends
to place on the Americas Cup Committee that is charged
with setting up the infrastructures as well as bearing
the overall responsibility for the races.
A statement from Valencia Town Hall has revealed
that the municipality considers these appointments
as extremely urgent, as the Consortium is unable
to function properly.
