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News, November 2003Valencia chosen to host Americas Cup 2007 for Switzerland27 November. Valencia has been chosen by the Swiss organising committee to host the Americas Cup challenge in 2007, the first time the cup returns to Europe since the first race over 150 years ago. Valencia celebrated last night in traditional form, with fireworks. It is hoped that the cup challenge will be a money spinner on a scale with the Barcelona Olympics. The Americas Cup, an ocean sailing trophy, is the oldest regular international sporting event, dating from 1851. It was won by Switzerland in February this year, but since Switzerland has no open sea, it had to choose a foreign port to defend the next challenge. Valencia has been chosen from a short list of cities, mostly within reachable distance of Switzerland, although the closest ports, Genoa and Venice were not in the final list. For Valencia the arrival of the trophy -it actually arrived last night with the host delegation from the naming ceremony in Geneva- brings the promise of new and quicker investments. The port will be remodelled, with a new access for yachts from the inner harbour to the open sea, new hotels and possibly even speeding the building of the AVE high-speed train link from Madrid, now scheduled for completion in 2010. More about Valencia and direct links to government sites, etc.: http://www.prayforspain.com/regions/index18.html Sources: TVE, El Mundo |