Ashraf AboArafe
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues the project to develop sports of all kinds, to host global international sporting events, including the sporting event of the preliminary tournament for the 37th America’s Cup AC37, which will be held for the first time outside Spain during the period from November 29 to December 2, 2023.
The Ministry of Sports sought to achieve major goals to regulate the sports sector and advance its components, to expand the base of sports practitioners and achieve local and global excellence, such as increasing the rate of practice of sports and physical activities, and creating competitive sports at a high level.
The America’s Cup, which will be held opposite the racing village and the Jeddah Yacht Club adjacent to the Formula 1 circuit on the Jeddah Corniche, in partnership with the Ministry of Sports and the Saudi Sailing Federation, is one of the most important championships in the maritime world, as the America’s Cup began in 1851 with a humble beginning, then rose to become the most prestigious sporting event in history. The most famous in the whole world, the America’s Cup for Yachting is held every three to four years.
The New York Yacht Club recorded its name in the history of the American Cup by raising the cup for 132 years and succeeded in defending the cup 24 times until 1983 before it was defeated by the Royal Perth Yacht Club, represented by the yacht Australia II, and since that time the American and New Zealand teams have won the cup four times. The Swiss team won the cup twice.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, the CEO of the AC37 America’s Cup, Grant Dalton, confirmed that the elements of winning the tournament require several factors, such as infrastructure and ease of movement, in addition to the availability of an international airport, which contributed to the selection of Jeddah Governorate to host this event, in addition to its location, which comes in… The middle of the world and the weather factor, which is the most important of all factors, as it has the best weather condition in the world for sailing, stressing that all of these factors are available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in Jeddah Governorate in particular.
He praised the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which revolve around sustainability and diversity, offering his thanks to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Sports, represented by the Saudi Sailing Federation, for hosting the America’s Cup and providing all facilities to the New Zealand team in organizing the second preliminary American Cup in Jeddah.
For his part, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Stuart Hosford, confirmed that choosing the Kingdom to organize the tournament is an opportunity for the competing teams to attend for the first time in the city of Jeddah, enjoy sailing on the shore of the Red Sea and attract the attention of the world, due to the huge developments that characterize the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the sports sector.
It is noteworthy that the British, Swiss, Italian, American and French teams will compete to face the New Zealand team (the defending cup) that has won the cup three times in a row, over a period of three days. During its three days from November 29 to December 2, the race will be accompanied by a number of recreational and educational facilities and events that the community can enjoy. Its categories are available to attend, enjoy, and learn about the sport of sailing through them.
