Qingdao, the City of Sailing, was officially announced today to be the host and racing city for 2008-'09 Volvo Ocean Race, the world's top sailing event. Volvo Event Management (UK), the organization company behind the Volvo Ocean Race, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Qingdao Municipal Government.

The chosen city had long been a mystery and a subject of speculation for both the media and the public since the press conference was held by Volvo Ocean Race China in Beijing this April.

Now, after half a year of debate and negotiation with the local government, the mystery has been unveiled and Qingdao has been selected from among other coastal cities. The city won the honor in recognition of its economic development, port facilities, business environment, cultural influence, and long experience of hosting sailing races.

During the signing ceremony, Zang Aimin, Vice Mayor of Qingdao, said, "Qindao, as the host city of 2008 Olympic Games sailing race, is trying to label itself as the ‘City of Sailing'. Selected as the stopover port for the race, Qingdao can further enhance its city positioning and strategy, and after the Olympic Games, add to its rich experience in organizing ocean races. With more professional talents and qualified facilities, we believe that Qingdao is able to provide high-quality services to the world's most influential sailing races, including the Volvo Ocean Race in China."

"The Volvo Ocean Race's entry into China will set a milestone in the history of world sailing races," said Mr. Glenn Bourke, CEO of Volvo Event Management (UK), at the signing ceremony. "Qingdao will build a grand platform for the race. The facilities, hosting capacity and support from Qingdao all had a deep impression on us. More importantly, we enjoyed the excellent sailing atmosphere in Qingdao. We are looking forward to the exciting moment of when global sailing comes to China in 2009."

Mr. Bourke expressed his regret that the second stopover port in China for the race had not yet to be decided. Race organisers are continuing discussions with a number of Chinese ports and there is still the potential for a second city to be selected as a pit stop before the fleet sails its longest leg, 12,000 nautical miles, to South America. Among the other cities, Shanghai appears the most likely but negotiations are continuing.

The Volvo Ocean Race

Established in 1973 as the Whitbread Round-the-World Race, the Volvo Ocean Race is the most prestigious ocean sailing race in the world today, lasting 9 months and covering 39,000 nautical miles -- up to 12 countries and ports. The whole race goes through several severe oceanic and climactic extremes, which poses a huge challenge to all competitors in terms of technology, physical and mental endurance.

The 2008-'09 Volvo Ocean Race will start from Alicante Port, Spain, in October 2008, going through Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North America, South America and Europe to a Baltic port finish. The 10-member crews race aboard the Volvo Open-70, the fastest monohull ocean racing yacht in the world. The fleet will arrive in China around the spring festival in 2009 and stay for about three weeks.