Alicante 2008. Sailing Around the World
Alicante 2008 – 2009 is the brand used to denote the organization of the occasion of the start port of the Volvo Ocean Race from the city of Alicante. This is the first time that the race sets off from the Mediterranean and it will give the image of the Valencian Community and the city of Alicante great media coverage throughout the world.
La Sociedad Gestora para la Imagen Estratégica y Promocional de la Comunitat Valenciana (Management Company for the Strategic and Promotional Image of the Valencian Community) is exclusively responsible for directly managing the occasion, and is designing a programme of activities which involve citizens and bring them closer to this sporting event.
On the other hand the Consortium “Alicante 2008. Vuelta al Mundo a Vela”, (Alicante 2008. Sailing Around the World”) is supervising the contributions made by the event’s sponsors.
The most ambitious, the longest, the most risky, the most extreme, in short, the best edition yet of the Volvo Ocean Race will set off on the 11th of October, 2008 from Alicante. Volvo Ocean Race has decided for the first time ever to start from the Mediterranean, and they couldn’t have chosen a better port than Alicante to do this. To celebrate this great event, there are plans for installations that will be open to the public over 23 days (from the 19th of September to the 11th of October) to receive all of the visitors that are interested in experiencing the Volvo Ocean Race start port event first-hand.
This maritime city par excellence lives and breathes the sea and all things nautical and intends to enjoy this event to the full. The construction of a huge Village together with the improvements being carried out on the city, will integrate the city permanently into the port, making it the ideal place to host a competition of these characteristics.
The current edition goes beyond all expectations with important innovations, for example, there are new ports of call and there will be unprecedented international exposure for the most spectacular and powerful start in the race’s history. For 23 days, Alicante will welcome the world’s most intrepid yachtsmen and women, media from four continents and a million visitors and consequently for this period will become the focal point of sailing worldwide.
The city is living the countdown to the start of the 10th edition with enthusiasm and is ready to offer the most spectacular start in the competition’s history. Amongst other novelties the route for this edition is the most extreme and longest to date at 39,000 miles.
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