The Hindu Business Line : Volvo Ocean Race stopover at Kochi port

Kochi April 29 Volvo Ocean Race, the world's premier offshore ocean marathon, has come out with its plans to bring the 2008-09 event to India and it is likely that the Kochi Port will be the stopover on the new race route through West Asia and Asia.

The race organisers have signed a Letter of Intent with Kochi Port as a major first step in the ongoing negotiations towards a full port agreement to host the ocean marathon, which starts in Alicante, Spain, in mid-October 2008.

Kochi was among a number of Indian ports in recent discussions with organisers.

The Cochin Port Trust, which will be responsible for organising the stopover, with the full backing of the Kerala Tourism Department, has welcomed the signing of the Letter of Intent and was confident that the stopover would give the port great exposure.

"India has never hosted such a prestigious sailing event and we are very excited that the Volvo Ocean Race is considering Kochi as a serious candidate for the competition," Mr N. Ramachandran, Chairman of the Kochi Port, said.

TOURISM BOOSTER

The Kerala State Tourism Department, a principal stakeholder in the exercise, envisages the event would bring significant visibility as well as economic benefit to the region.

"Kerala Tourism sees this as an opportunity to project Kochi as an exciting destination, and we will be happy to extend all support to the Kochi Port to bring the event to the State," Dr Venu, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, said.

The Yachting Association of India , an active advocate of the race coming to India, sees the hosting of a stopover as an important boost to India's ongoing campaign to establish itself as a venue for hosting major sporting events following its successful bid to stage the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010.

After sailing from Spain via Africa, the fleet goes to West Asia, India and Southeast Asia before a stop in China ahead of its longest leg of 12,000 nautical miles to South America. It then stops in on the US East Coast and Europe on the way to a Baltic port finish.

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