Cardiff Named Host Port for 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race

The Volvo Ocean Race will visit Wales for the very first time in 2017-18, when Cardiff will host a stop-over. It will also be the first time the race has been to the UK in over a decade – the last occasion was a stop-over in Portsmouth in 2005-06

Tom Touber, Race Chief Operating Officer, revealed the news during a presentation at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay.

Touber said: “It is fantastic to be able to announce that the Race will once again stop in UK waters, and a first visit to Cardiff is a very exciting move.

“The competition to host the Volvo Ocean Race has never been more fierce, with over 80 ports involved in the process for the 12th and 13th editions. Cardiff made a particularly impressive bid to win one of the coveted European slots and with such outstanding facilities and great enthusiasm I’m convinced that we will have a stopover to remember.

“The fact that we are making this announcement five years in advance is a very strong signal about the future of the Race and the commitment to it from the Volvo companies.”

Welsh Government Business Minister, Edwina Hart, added: “The Volvo Ocean Race is a truly global event and its arrival in Cardiff in a few years’ time will mark another historic milestone in Wales’ rise as an outstanding destination for world class events. The Welsh Government is fully committed to attracting more major international sporting event to Wales.

“Hosting a stopover in the Volvo Ocean Race will generate a substantial economic boost for the Cardiff and Wales economy. We look forward to welcoming thousands of new visitors to Wales, who will experience a vibrant capital city and a nation with a rich and diverse cultural heritage.

“We look forward to working with the Volvo Ocean Race and its partners, along with Cardiff Council and Cardiff Harbour Authority to deliver a world-class event.”