Chairman of 'Let's do it Galway' John Killeen said at the time: "We are proud to be hosting a global sporting event such as the Volvo Ocean Race which will be watched by a worldwide audience of over 1.8 billion. Let's do it Galway has been working with Fáilte Ireland and the local administrative and State agencies – Galway City Council, Galway Harbour Company and Fáilte Ireland West to make the visit of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 the most successful sporting event in the history of the State."
Galway's yacht race tent location is in doubt according to a report in this morning's Sunday Business Post. The report is a worrying development within 8 weeks of the event as it appears to support an Irish Times report on the site. The tented village planned for the Galway Stop over of the Volvo Ocean Race this summer hangs in the balance because of a 'wrangle' over the removal of oil terminals at the docks site. The newspaper quotes Galway's chamber of commerce president Michael Coyle who says that if the decommissioning of the terminals does not take place by St. Patrick's day then it was likely the tent village will not go ahead as originally planned. A 3D creation of the village is here. An alternative site however has already been earmarked by organisers in the Greater harbour area but it will not be as close to where the five race boats are moored.
When the event was announced for Galway 18 months ago, organiser Jamie Boag said: "Galway Bay and Docks will be transformed with the arrival of the spectacular Volvo 70 Fleet following their high-speed voyage across the Atlantic from Boston. A raised viewing platform will be constructed on the quayside to allow visitors to witness these high-performance craft at close quarters. The Race Village will also feature an open-air market and a tented extension of the City's Latin Quarter. Gourmands will have the unique opportunity to sample the local 'fruits de mers' as the City comes alive with 'the the razzmatazz and buzz' of a country and a region at play."
Published in News From the Afloat.ie Archive
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