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Que
viva la Copa América 2007 !!!
(11/26/03)
(source
: AC
Management)
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The
Spanish Mediterranean port of Valencia was named on
Wednesday host for the 2007 America's Cup, international
yachting's most prestigious prize, beating strong
challenges from three European rivals.
Shortly before noon on the shores of Lake Geneva,
Pierre-Yves Firmenich, the Commodore of the Société
Nautique de Genève, ended the suspense that has been
building over the past nine months by revealing the
identity of the Host City of the 32nd America’s Cup.
"The combination of all the other criteria and the
sailing conditions are the reason we chose Valencia,"
said Michel Bonnefous, the company's chief executive
officer. "The wind is very reliable, very steady.
We evaluated the worst-case scenario, in other words,
how many days you cannot sail, due to the weather.
In Auckland, over a period where we lost 15 days,
in Valencia, at worst, we would lose just one day."
Organizers plan to build team compounds and an America's
Cup village in the basin of the port of Valencia,
a few miles from downtown. Because Valencia's bay
deepens close to the shore, races can be held within
viewing distance of the city's beaches and waterfront
promenade.
"We have to deliver the best America’s Cup in
history, for competitors, for participants and for
the public at large", said José Salinas, the
head of the Valencia bid committee. "We will
try to do it with our best efforts and I think this
is a big step forward for Valencia and for Spain.”
It was a comeback victory for Valencia, after Lisbon
had long been seen as the front-runner in the competition.
"Of course we are disappointed, but in this game you
can only have one winner, so we accept it," said Patrick
Monteiro de Barros, head of the Lisbon bid committee.
"I always said that AC Management was doing a very
good job, so if they picked Valencia, they have their
reasons. I have to respect their decision. I think
our bid was very good. They must have had a difficult
time choosing between the two."
Monteiro de Barros said he thought all four bids were
strong. "But I always feared that Valencia was the
strongest competitor. They were very serious, very
professional. I wish them well."
"Defeat is a disappointment, but well done to the
winners", Marseille Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin
told a news conference. "Maybe Valencia made
a stronger financial impression, because I don't think
it was down to the infrastructures."
In Naples, about 200 people including Mayor Rosa Russo
Jervolino gathered to watch the announcement live
on a giant screen set up inside the city hall, news
reports said.
"It isn't always easy to understand why they make
such decisions," said Sabatino Santangelo, chairman
of the Naples bid committee. "We don't agree with
the decision, but we accept it."
A delegation consisting of prospective challengers,
media, representatives from Valencia and the America’s
Cup is now at Valencia where they will be met by the
Mayor who will host a reception at the Town Hall to
celebrate the arrival of the America’s Cup.
Meanwhile, the city celebrated by letting off thunderous
fireworks and a giant balloon-decked yacht was towed
through the streets.
On Thursday morning, the delegation is scheduled to
tour Valencia, with specific attention on the facilities
that will soon make up the next home for the America’s
Cup family.
A press conference for local media will follow at
11:00 at the Palacio de Congresos. |
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The
sailing world holds its breath (11/25/03)
(source
: AC
Management)
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Tomorrow,
on Wednesday, 26th November, the Trustee of the
America’s Cup, the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG),
will reveal the identity of the Host City and the
principal partner for the 32nd America’s Cup.
Details of the new features of the Louis Vuitton
challenge trophy and the America's Cup in 2007 will
be unveiled when organisers AC announce the location
of the event.
The announcement will take place at the Hotel President
Wilson on the shores of Lake Geneva. Michel Bonnefous,
CEO of AC Management, the organising authority for
the next event, will outline the vision and plans
for the 32nd America’s Cup.
"Through this bidding process, we have identified
four wonderful venues, each capable of hosting the
America’s Cup," Bonnefous said. "Each
city has worked very hard through the bidding process,
and they have all done an outstanding job."
On top of on-site visits, checks on plans, scrutiny
of financial and social conditions, infrastructure,
or political support, AC management had boats with
wind vanes quietly sailing off the candidate ports
all summer to double-check weather data.
"It must be a place with steady winds, a wind with
some diversity. On top of that a capacity to bring
the event close to people, the environment for the
regattas, all of this counts in the sporting quality
of the location," Bonnefous said.
At 11:51, Pierre-Yves Firmenich, Commodore of the
Société Nautique de Genève, will join Michel Bonnefous
in revealing the identity of the new Host City.
The ceremony will commence at 11:15 and will be
followed by a press conference.
The entire ceremony can be viewed via a live webcast.
Full webcast details can be found on americascup.com.
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"Any
decision has been made" said ACM (11/19/03)
(source
: Lusa.pt)
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As
the rumors grew loud enough that a choice was made
in favour of Valencia, America's Cup Management
affirms that the discussions are continuing with
the bid cities.
"Any decision has been made concerning the
city which will host the America's Cup", ACM's Marcus
Hutchinson said in remarks carried by the Portuguese
Lusa agency. "The four candidates will stay
in the race with equal conditions and the organizing
city will not be known until November 26".
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Most
commentators pick Valencia to win (11/16/03)
(sources
: The
Log,
NZ
City,
Le
Matin
&
Valencia
2007)
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"Naples
or Marseilles should be good destination choices for
the summer of 2007 because everybody else will be
in Lisbon or Valencia. Valencia, most likely",
highly respected US yachting commentator Rich Roberts
wrote on the Log website. "Conventional wisdom
worldwide gives Valencia the inside track".
He took his "own infallible poll", inquiring
of a handful of well-known people who have been involved
in several America's Cups as participants and observers,
figuring their opinions were as good or better than
most. "All six said Valencia is it", the
commentator concluded.
Exactly the same thing from the ’Voice of New Zealand
Yachting’ Peter Montgomery who said the short-list
of four cities comes down to two, most likely Valencia.
Lastly, the swiss newspaper le matin today affirms
that "it will be Valencia", basing its conviction
on the assertions propagated by "a close relation
of Alinghi" and by "a Serono [the pharmaceutical
group leaded by Ernesto Bertarelli] executive manager".
In spite of this apparent unanimity, the mayor of
Valencia Rita Barbera warns her team against an excess
of confidence and invites the Spanish supporters to
wait patiently.
"Valencia's position is a solid one on account
of the quality of its regatta infrastructure and the
guarantee provided by the joint efforts of the three
administrations involved", she said. "But
must not to be overconfident and wait till America's
Cup Management publishes its decision on 26 November". |
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