Volvo Ocean Race – pressrelease
Live from Lindholmen, Gothenburg (as reported on Sailing Anarchy).
Fredrik Arp, Glenn Bourke and Leif Johansson. Photo: Thomas Schmidt.
Glenn Bourke started the pressconference by saying that VO70 are the most magnificent sailing boats. Life at the extreme is reality. They have now made 5 decisions (Volvo Leif Johansson CEO Volvo & Fredrik Arp CEO Volvo Cars enters stage).
– Next race in 2.5 years, late 2008-summer 2009. More continuity. Capitalize on momentum.
– New ports, new route. May include mid east, india, west USA. Detirmined over time. Ports should/would include teams. Region & nations to provide teams.
– Two confirmed entries.
– Announcing start port shortly. Magnificent facilities. Within weeks.
– VO70 spectacular. Will be the boat. Refinements, tweaks, no quantum change.
New route = challenges for designers. Expect new race to be a better business opportunity for sponsors; ex Volvo Extreme 40 & corp entertainment.
Leif Johansson CEO Volvo & Fredrik Arp CEO Volvo Cars
Very happy, global focus important, india/china/west USA important regions.
Ericsson
Commercial sucess. Wonderful 8 months. 4000 quality customer meetings. Excellent plattform. Lookin forward applaud the decision of Volvo. Asian market 25% will be 37% of business. Plan to contribute to the next race.
ABN
Congratulate Volvo to decisions. VOR excellent platform for marketing & communication. Finest moment today: ABN 2 not kids anymore. Come in first?
Q&A
Q: (reuters) 3 year circle, just next time or longer plan?
A: long term plan 3 years cycle.
Q: (seilas) interim circuit
A: abandonned plan for pacific race, run VOR through pacific instead (china perhaps japan). ABN would like to keep the boat racing. Plans announced next week in NL. Boats can compite for line honours in any race.
Q: (SVT in Sedish) Boats break. Have you thought about rules.
A: Exciting VO70 we see technical development, problems have been solved
Q: (SVT) Enough boats?
A: How many is many? On this level 5-7 boats ideal.
Q: (SVT) Shorter cycle, whys is it good)
A: No dip of inactivity. All teams can start on new campaign and recruit crews.
Q: (australian newspaper) Commercial real value?
A: (Fredrik Arp) Combination of global venue and touch of innovation/adventure/excitement. Also in port arrangements that are excellent opportunities to meet with customer. Glenn Bourke have beend doing an excellent work. (Leif Johansson) Event that can be covered every minute to hook onto and tap into every single day. Commercial value + media + port events.
Q: (freelance) Volvo investment next 3 years?
A: 50/50 split. Hard to calculate. Hard to calculate. “Considerable” :-)
Q: Asia, threat or opportunity
A: (Bourke) Opportunity. Huge venue. Great venues. Olympic harbour in China. Vigo were great as a new venue.
Q: Absence of female competitors
A: Cyclical thing. Maybe female crew with 13? Look into it. Teams are looking into it.
Q: (brunel) Will the current boats be able to enter next time
A: Small changes to the rule. Old boats should be able to compete.
Q: (Independent, London) All great Capes on the couse
A: Cant guarantee. One or two :-) Southern Ocean conditions will be seen. Race will be more demanding as a sporting event.
Q: Going head to head with Vendee?
A: Consider other race, and other sport (soccer world cup)
Q: French teams?
A: Hopefully!
Q: which two teams?
A: will announce soon themselves. 2 more possible
