Port America's Cup - home of the duel

Port America's Cup - home of the duel

Valencia, 11 April, 2007 - On Monday, April 16th, the first matches of the Louis Vuitton Cup are scheduled to begin and for the first time in the 32nd America's Cup, the teams are fighting for their lives. By May 7th, only four of the 11 challengers will remain, seven having been eliminated from further competition.

Racing in the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup Match itself takes the form of a series of match races, the one on one duels that make the America's Cup such a singular competition. The result of each match is simple; you win or you lose. There is no second place and you have to win to advance in the competition.

To mark the significance of the dueling nature of the America's Cup, on Wednesday, Port America's Cup hosted a series of other duels, involving some of the top sportsmen in the world.

American track and field legend Carl Lewis faced rival American Mike Marsh on a 100 metre track alongside the canal leading from Port America's Cup to the race area. Both sprinters reconvened at the track later in the afternoon to hold a clinic with youth from a local athletics academy.

Spanish golfing hero Sergio Garcia had a 'hole in one' duel with compatriot José Manuel Lara. Each teed off from a pontoon snaking out into the Port near the Alinghi team base. The green was on a pontoon moored in the middle of the Port.

Then Valencian Football Club goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares faced penalty shots from Pedja Mijatovic, a former Champions League hero and currently the Sporting Director of Real Madrid.

Earlier at a press conference, each of the athletes spoke of their admiration for the teams competing in Valencia at the 32nd America's Cup. Although each is from a sport that requires extremely different skills, Mike Marsh says there is a common theme that he sees between the athletes participating in the duels and the sailors in the America's Cup.

"There are a lot of similarities between athletics and yacht racing: preparation, concentration, tension, hard work and the effort to win," Marsh says. "For me it's a great experience to be here and it's a great help to understand other sports."

"These duels are an excellent idea and it's a great honour for me to have been invited to take part in the show that is the America's Cup," said Sergio Garcia. "I had the chance to see one of the races here last year and I was really impressed to see the coordination of the crew work. I hope to come back this summer."

"I think the America's Cup is incredible and that this time is going to be very impressive," added Carl Lewis.

For José Manuel Lara, who was born in Valencia, the positive impact the America's Cup has had on his home town is immediately apparent: "Events like the America's Cup put Valencia on the map," he says.

Since 1851, the America's Cup has transcended the sport of sailing to become a symbol of the pursuit of excellence. Offical partners LOUIS VUITTON, ENDESA, SANTANDER, ALCATEL - LUCENT and the America's Cup share a heritage rich in passion, innovation and extraordinary achievement. The 32nd America's Cup enjoys the support of Nespresso, Adecco, Ford, El Corte Inglés, Estrella Damm, Grupo Leche Pascual, Coca-Cola and Vodafone.

Racing for the 32nd America's Cup began with a series of Louis Vuitton Acts in 2004, 2005 and 2006 across Europe. It will end in 2007, with Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 - Fleet Racing - 3 to 7 April which precedes the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger selection series (April 16 - June 12). The winner will race the Defender, Alinghi, in the 32nd America's Cup Match beginning June 23, 2007.

Contacts:
32nd America's Cup
Edificio Varadero Port America's Cup
Email: media@americascup.com
Web: www.americascup.com or http://media.americascup.com

© Scoop Media