Swedish ambassador Bengt Lundborg promoted the forthcoming Volvo Ocean Race at a business cocktail in Lisbon last week.
One of the most important sailing events in the world, the 11th Volvo Ocean Race will be in Lisbon from May 31 to June 10 next year.
The prestigious international event is expected to attract thousands of tourists and sailing enthusiasts to the capital over the period.
Lisbon spent one year competing with 38 other European cities to be one of the staging posts for the race.
Mayor of Lisbon António Costa highlighted the race’s importance because it affirms Lisbon’s location as a gateway to the Atlantic Ocean and is an excellent place for nautical sports and tourism.
Dutch wins
Although the race starts in Alicante this month, the boats will only arrive in Lisbon in May. The race ends in July in Galway, Ireland.
Formerly called the Whitbread Round the World Race, it is held every three years and is now called the Volvo Ocean Race on account of its owners.
At the moment, the Netherlands holds the record of three wins while the Dutch skipper Conny van Rietschoten is the only captain to have won the race twice.
The Swedish ambassador told the Algarve Resident that the event was “sure to generate a lot of visual excitement with all those yachts and boats rushing up and down the Tejo”.
