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26 November 2003
VALENCIA – The eastern city of Valencia won the competition on Wednesday to host the 2007 Americas Cup sailing race.
The nautical world’s most celebrated race is expected to raise the city’s international profile and attract millions of euros in financial benefits.
The proposal from Spain’s third-largest city beat other rival bids from Marseilles, Lisbon and Naples.
Americas Cup race managers ruled that the competition’s 32nd race will be staged at Spain’s eastern Mediterranean city.
Pilar del Castillo, Spain’s minister for Education, Culture and Sports, said staging the race “would not only recooperate Valencia but the whole of Spain”.
As she visited museums in Madrid, del Castillo added: “We are in luck. Valencia is a magnificent showcase to reach the rest of the world.”
Valencia bid chief Jose Salinas said: “We have been working flat-out to host the best sporting event in the world.
“We thank the decision by the organisers and we hope we will stand up to this big challenge.”
Preliminary regattas will be raced off Valencia from September next year in a build-up to the race itself.
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]
Subject: Spanish news