Valencia, 8 September, 2006 - The 32nd
America's Cup on Tour, a travelling 'Embassy' for the America's Cup is
visiting Munich over the weekend, where it will be at the centre of Olympic
Park from the 8 to 10 September.
The
Tour will open its doors from 16:00 to 20:00 on Friday, when the America's
Cup and Louis Vuitton Cup trophies will be on display. Over the weekend,
the 32nd America's Cup on Tour will be open from 11:00 to 20:00.
On hand
to celebrate the Tour visit to his hometown of Munich was Tony Kolb, a
bowman aboard one of the 11 challenging teams, BMW ORACLE Racing. Kolb is
one of a number of German sailors competing in the 32nd America's Cup; many
others are with United Internet Team Germany, the first German team to race
for the Auld Mug.
The
'32nd America's Cup on Tour' was conceived with the aim of conveying the
values that have shaped the America's Cup into a legend. The Tour serves as
a tasting menu for the activities in Valencia, the host city of the 32nd
America's Cup.
The
'Embassy' of the America's Cup
At the
America's Cup on Tour, one can experience first hand the passion,
technology and pursuit of excellence that has been a hallmark of the
America's Cup for over 150 years.
The
centrepiece of the Tour is GBR 44, an America's Cup boat that competed in
1999, and which now serves as a full size example of the powerful and
graceful race yachts competing in Valencia. Another highlight is the
remote-control replica models of the 12 competing teams; visitors can race
the models around a course in the boat pond.
Additionally, a photo exhibition featuring exciting action shots from the
racing to date, information cubes, and a model of the Port America's Cup,
all help to explain the excitement and action taking place in Valencia.
Over
1.5 million visitors have shared in the passion of the 32nd America's Cup
at the 12 Louis Vuitton Acts (pre-regattas) raced to this point. Louis
Vuitton Acts have been sailed over the past three years in Marseille (FRA),
Malmö-Skåne (SWE), Trapani (ITA) as well as in the host city of Valencia
(ESP), where a little-used part of the port has undergone a massive
transformation into the Port America's Cup.
The
public America's Cup Park, the 12 team bases, a Superyacht pier, a new
marina, and the landmark Veles e Vents building, which overlooks the Port,
have all contributed to creating a home worthy of the competition for the
oldest trophy in sport.
The
32nd America's Cup on Tour has welcomed over 35 000 visitors at 18 stops
across Europe this summer. Its next stop is in Geneva from 13 to 17 of
September.