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Far-right
Le Pen invites himself in the selection
(10/14/03)
(source
: Yahoo.fr) |
French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, who are
running for the presidency of the Provence-Alpes Cote
d'Azur region (also known as PACA), estimated Tuesday
that "the bet is lost" for Marseille's bid.
"I note that those who hoped to use the Cup as an
electoral springboard are going to be disappointed
", he said during the inauguration of his daughter’s
campaign headquarters in Paris.
"Marseille has always been a port for inland navigation
throughout the Mediterranean Sea, what is not so bad",
he added. "But not a port open to the World as
the Spanish and the Portuguese were".
The "Marseillais" (ie. Residents of Marseille)
will appreciate... |
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The
America's Cup becomes a political issue (10/11/03)
(sources
: Las
Provincias,
Le
Temps, Cascaïs
Website & Yahoo.fr) |
"List
all elections planned in your country at all levels
until 2008 and indicate whether the outcome of such
elections could have any impact and, if so what kind,
on the preparation for the America's Cup in 2007",
answered AC Management in the "Manual for candidates
cities for the 32nd America's Cup".
This question is regarded as something that far from
being neutral as the Swiss requirements oblige the
public authorities to enter in the process of selection.
Whereas Italy is highly criticized for its political
tournaments, it seems that the situation is very favorable
for the Cup. As underlined the Swiss daily newspaper
Le Temps, the full agreement of officials, regardless
of their political color, in dealing with AC Management,
is one of the Naples' advantages.
A meeting was held yesterday at Silvio Berlusconi’s
office in Palazzo Chigi with the centre-left Mayor
of Naples, Mrs Rosa Russo Iervolino and the PDS (Democratic
Party of the Left) Regional President Antonio Bassolino.
There is the same unanimity in Lisbon, where the whole
political class — left and right — is aligned on the
necessity of hosting the America's Cup.
"The President of the Republic, Jorge Sampaio,
has joined the club of those who unconditionally stand
for the event", explained the Organizing Commission
of the Portuguese Bid. "The presidential uphold
completes the range of political support to the national
bid, which includes the Prime-Minister Durão Barroso
and the City Councils’ Mayors of Lisbon, Cascais and
Oeiras".
Patrick Monteiro de Barros, president of the Commission,
has assured that the political support is not over
yet, since Ferro Rodrigues, leader of the Socialist
Party, the biggest opposition party, is also in the
list of sponsors for the bid’s "national project".
The things are not so simple in Spain where the valencian
bid is a project leaded by the Popular Party (conservative).
The Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and his Government,
the President of the "Generalitat Valenciana" Francisco
Camps and the Mayor of Valencia Rita Barbera are of
the same political color, all members of the Partido
Popular.
To fulfilled Swiss' requirements, the Spanish bid
propose to accelerate the highly controversial Spanish
National Hydroelectric Plan (NHP) and its Ebro water
transfer. However, all environmental and other NGOs,
as well as numerous academics, scientists, unions
and political parties are trying to stop this project.
Acceleration of the NHP now triggered a polemic between
Mariano Rajoy, chosen to lead Spain's ruling conservative
Party in March general elections, and Jose Luis Rodriguez
Zapatero, the Socialist candidate.
In the political field, the most problematic case
is Marseille as the next spring's regional polls in
France will probably give Jean-Marie Le Pen, the National
Front president, his greatest chance yet of a historic
victory in its heartlands in southern France.
Michel Vauzelle, the current Socialist president of
the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) Region, said
the prospects of Mr Le Pen becoming regional president
were "terrifyingly real".
Nowhere is the risk of the Front gaining its first
taste of serious power higher than in PACA, where
Mr Le Pen won a record 28% of the vote in the second
round of last year's presidential election.
A few days ago, the influential Swiss newspaper La
Tribune de Genève wrote : "it is difficult
to imagine the image problems that could have been
caused with collaboration between far right elected
Councillors and the America's Cup organizers".
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Further
enquiry for Naples' bid (10/08/03)
(source
: Metropolis
Info
&
La
Citta)
|
As
rumours are flying around that two of the four candidates
competing for the privilege of hosting the Cup suffering
lack of feasibility, a "technical meeting" was held
yesterday in Geneva beetween ACM and the Italian representatives.
The object of the meeting was to examine and discuss
renovation and feasibility studies. The Italian proposed
zone was previously disused industrial area and major
redevelopment are required rapidly to be ready in
time for the 32nd Americas Cup Regatta.
According to Italian's reports, representatives who
attended the Geneva meeting are very positive about
ACM's message.
This further enquiry don't lead the Naples' mayor
Rosa Russo Iervolino to doubt. She said today that
her City have seven chances out of ten of winning
the selection. |
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The
America's Cup
jackpot (10/07/03)
(sources
: Yahoo.fr,
Cascais
&
Valencia)
|
|
The
two last America's Cup provided a significant boost
to the Auckland and NZ economies (from expenditure
by syndicates, organisers, sponsors, super-yachts,
tourists and Government) and the city which will
host the next event can hit the jackpot.
"Everyone doesn't imagine what a victory can
do for Marseille", it's said in the Jean-Claude
Gaudin's team. The French studies show that €1,500
million in new income and 6,000 jobs could be create
by the Cup.
The Portuguese bid lead by Patrick Monteiro de Barros,
Cascais Naval Club Commodore, estimates minimal
incomes of 1,500 millions euros between 2004 and
2007 with this event organization.
"Economic direct impact of this regatta around
Lisbon’s area will be twice as much as the incomes
from Euro 2004", the Lisbon organising committee
said. "The most popular sport, European Football
Championship, would obtain incomes around €850
million, America’s Cup can generate a minimum income
of €1,500 million".
The estimative of the Portuguese organization indicates
that between the pre-selection in 2004 and the event
final phase in 2007, will create 12 to 15,000 work
positions for one year.
More modest, "forecast calculate the economic
impact at €1,000 million, creating approximatively
10,000 jobs with a duration of one year", a
statement said on the Valencia's official Website.
Naples doesn't publish figures but one can imagine
a similar result.
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Marseille
"is ready to sacrifice"
(10/06/03)
(sources
: Yahoo.fr
et
Quotidianiespresso.it)
|
The
marseille's mayor, Jean-Claude Gaudin said today that
his city is ready to sacrifice for the America's Cup
2007, adding that Marseille is ensured to recover
"largely" its investment.
During the today's meeting with the town council,
Mr. Gaudin estimates to some €200
million - 120 in investments - the necessary
financial commitments for the Cup.
The senator-mayor pointed out that the French Governement
has committed to give €40 million if Marseilles
win and he added : "If we are retained, we will
success in obtaining more from the Governement".
Meanwhile, Gianni Letta - Under-Secretary to the Italian
Prime Minister's Office - held today a meeting in
Rome with Rosa Russo Iervolino et Antonio Bassolino,
Mayor of Naples and President of the Campania Region
respectively, to discuss tax law enforcement. |
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The
Governments enter the Cup Arena
II (10/02/03)
(source
: Yahoo.fr
&
Site
officiel de Cascais)
|
Russell
Coutts said in May the European city to next host
the competition would be announced before the deadline.
"More likely to be in October", he said.
Considering present fever in Europe, it becomes obvious
that this prediction can be regarded as true. After
Naples and Valencia, it is now time for the French
and Portuguese Governments to come forward.
After a meeting at the Council of Ministers in Lisbon,
the Portuguese Commission for the Cascais' Candidature
obtained a "declaration of public utility".
The works the Commission plans to undertake will now
begin very soon, without awaiting the decision from
Geneva.
The Marseille's existing land use plan (plan local
d’urbanisme, P.L.U.) will be modified to incorporate
new building identified as necessary at the "Vieux-Port"
entrance by the municipal council (home for the super
yachts, a 'foredeck club', new piers...).
In addition to French government participation (€40
million), discussions are in progress about the remaining
€80 million and to create a consortium which
will support the Marseille's bid. |
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