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Portuguese
fishermen protest again the Cup (11/03/03)
(source
: Yahoo.it) |
Portuguese fishermen are protesting against the Lisbon+Cascais
bid to host the America’s Cup. The action, which today
began, has seen fishermen in their boats blockade
most of the intensive network of rapid ferries operating
between the two banks of the River Tagus in Lisbon.
"It's to protest against the arrogance of the
government who has ordered the demolition of the terminal
of the fishing boat in order to built the structure
to host the America's Cup", said Joaquim Pilo,
leader of fishermen trade union. |
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Did
Russell Coutts leak the venue ?
(11/01/03)
(source
: Sailing
Anarchy) |
According to the Sailing Anarchy Website, during his
presentation at the NYYC on October 17th, Russell
Coutts said "the country has challenged for the
Cup, but not in 2003" in response to a question
about the venue for the next America's Cup.
If Coutts was stating fact and the quote is correct,
you don't need to be a genius to guess the answer
... |
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Host
city announced on 26th November
(10/30/03)
(source
: AC
Management) |
The venue for the 32nd America's Cup will be decided
on November 26, organisers of the sailing event said
on Friday.
"The four remaining candidates - Lisbon, Marseille,
Naples and Valencia - are each in the final stages
of contractual negotiation," organisers AC (America's
Cup) Management said in a statement.
"The identity of a South European city will be made
public on Wednesday 26th November 2003".
Details of the host city announcement for the 32nd
America's Cup, to be held in Geneva, will be announced
in due course. |
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A
decision "by end November" ? (10/29/03)
(sources
: Yahoo.fr,
La
Tribune & L'équipe) |
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A
decision on where the 2007 America's Cup is to be
held is expected within the next few weeks, the
man leading Lisbon's bid to host the yachting regatta
predicted.
"The dealine was 15 December. At this date,
contractual stage will have to be concluded",
he told a press conference. "Which implies
that they must make a decision at least one month
before the deadline".
"They've (organisers) let it be known that
they'll give a definitive decision earlier than
forecast, probably by the end of November,". "I
reckon that'll be between November 15 and 20".
More precise, the Swiss daily "Tribune de Genève"
announces that "The choice of the city to host
the America's Cup will be normally unveil on Wednesday,
November 26 in Geneva".
A decision, which will no doubt have a positive
impact for Cascais from the Patrick Monteiro de
Barros' point of view.
"I think we have in Cascais the best race area
in Europe and one of the five best one in the World",
he said. "Perhaps there is wind (in the other
cities) but the lapse of time during which it breathes
is shorter. There are thermal breezes related to
heat. There are winds just during the summer".
A vision that Bertrand Pacé doesn't share.
On the contrary, "unforeseeable winds reinforce
the interest in a competition. it is not because
there are winds breathing somewhere that it is beautiful
regatta there".
"In Cascais, races likely to be held in a wind
range of 15 to 20 knots but they do not offer many
things of interest", Bertrand said. On the
same, "In Valencia, the thermal breezze is
strong and stable. it will be monotonous".
"As sailor, the place where one can have fun
is Marseille", he concluded. "The bay
is fantastic with three different modes of principal
winds".
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The
Swiss Yacht Clubs vote for Marseille (10/27/03)
(source
: skipper.ch)
|
In
its latest edition, the Swiss Sailing Magazine Skippers
published a survey regarding the preference of Swiss
yacht club presidents about the host city for the
32nd America's Cup.
1) What city will be chosen ?
Marseille 44% Cascais 39% Valencia
5% Palma 5% Naples
5%
2) What city should host the event in 2007 ?
Marseille 72% Cascais 19% Valencia
3% Palma 5% Naples
0% .
"One shouldn't have to wonder what is better for the
Swiss", Michel Bonnefous relativizes. "The
goal is to find what is better for the event".
It's interesting to note that Alinghi sponsors have
examined the exact same questions and gotten strikingly
different answers. They mentioned Cascais and Valencia
but Marseille and Naples are out of the race. |
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Discussions
Continue in Geneva (10/22/03)
(source
: Yahoo.it)
|
Despite
rumors which have circulated (see above), AC Management
continues to discuss with the four cities, to choose
the venue and host city for the 32nd America's Cup.
A meeting was held today in Geneva beetween ACM and
the Italian representatives on examining the Naples
bid for the next America's Cup.
The organizing commission of the Italian bid says
the Berlusconi's Government will now institute a series
of measures (mainly about infrastructure and financial
support), according to the requirements of ACM, to
ensure that Naples becomes the 2007 host city. |
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La
Tribune said Cascais leads in front of Valence (20/10/03)
(source
: La
Tribune
de Genève translated by Cascais
Website) |
The
Portuguese bid to host the next America’s Cup is first
page on Major Swiss newspaper la Tribune de Genève
titled "Lisbon, our favourite in the America’s
Cup". Marseille and Naples are almost out of
the race.
The first page shows a Lisbon picture and resumes
the text published inside underlining that the city
choice among the four adversaries will be tough.
La Tribune bases their statistic on five crucial requisites
for the final choice: winds, sportive qualities, infrastructures,
tourism interest of the area, political support and
safety. Lisbon appears first on the classification,
with a grade of 18 out of 20 to its constant and predictable
winds.
The project of Lisbon/Cascais bid anticipates the
construction of the bases to receive the 16 challengers
and the defender syndicates on the coast area between
Pedrouços and Algés.
As for the local tourist interest, the diary attributes
Lisbon with an 18 out of 20 speaking of its maritime
history, a living capital that enjoys great challenge,
offering at the same time low living costs.
The total Government support given to the Project
manager, Patrick Monteiro de Barros, the candidature’s
president, and the “safety” offered by the city, in
a general way, are both details that deserved another
18 out of 20 grade in the diary’s opinion.
Details (in French) at : La Tribune |
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Valencia
sounds more and more like the winner (10/18/03)
(sources
: La
Citta di Salerno
&
Valencia
Official Website)
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As
the selection process is in its final phases, the
rumors mill is turning over-time and, according
to a Web rumor floated days ago, the
probability of America's Cup regatta in Valencia
is now very high.
Which rumors are true and which aren't ? Nobody
knows, except those who've signed confidentiality
agreements barring them from talking.
Nevertheless, in its October 17 edition, the Italian
newspaper La Citta di Salerno cited leaked information
and, under the heading "Napoli, addio Coppa
America", the newspaper affirmed that the host
of the Cup will be Valencia.
Coincidence or consequence? The organizing commission
of the Valencian bid is now calling for volunteers.
Those interested in volunteering to assist either
on the water or in the administration office should
contact them at valencia2007.com.
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The
town hall of Marseille "scandalized"
(10/16/03)
(source
: Yahoo.fr) |
"I am scandalized that Mr. Le Pen makes such
remarks about the Marseille's bid while while we are
running the last mile of the race", said France
Gamerre, the City delegate to the maritime businesses.
"Obviously Mr. le Pen does not like Marseille
and does not have any ambition for this City".
French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen estimated
Tuesday that "the bet is lost" for Marseille and explained
that the provencal City "has always been a port
for inland navigation throughout the Mediterranean
Sea". |
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