Over 40 Nations Set For Qingdao

467 sailors from 42 nations are currently registered to compete in the Qingdao International Regatta, the first Test Event for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Taking place in China from 18-31 August, the regatta will give competitors the opportunity to test the waters upon which the next set of Olympic medallists will be decided.

Of the 42 nations currently represented on the entry list the hosts China will be represented by the largest contingent of sailors with 49 competitors across the eleven events. France, Great Britain and the USA will also all be sending large teams of 30 plus sailors. The 22 strong Australian team will be aiming for a repeat of their King’s Trophy winning display at the ISAF World Sailing Games, whilst the Italians will be buoyed by the Volvo Trophy success of their young sailors at last week’s Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship.

Although competition is sure to be tough in Qingdao, an even bigger focus for many of the competitors will be familiarizing themselves with the venue and the racing areas. The Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre, located at the former Beihai Dockyard on Fushan Bay in East New Zone of Qingdao, will host the regatta. The Race Committee, working with guidelines from ISAF, will set courses as similar as possible to those of the Olympic Sailing Competition.

To find out more about the venue view the Electronic Venue Guide.

First Test Event

The Qingdao International Regatta is the first of two Test Events scheduled for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, and is one of the first test events held by any of the 28 summer sports currently on the Olympic programme.

SCHENKER CHINA Ltd. has been selected as the sole official provider of logistics and freight forwarding services and the Organizing Committee recommend sailors use the logistic services of SCHENKER CHINA for the regatta.