alencia, 3 April 2006. The "China Sails into the America's Cup" promotional evening in Beijing was a roaring success on Saturday night. The show at the Tian Qiao Theatre, produced by the organisers of the 32nd America's Cup and Louis Vuitton, was attended by over 1,000 guests, including celebrities, VIPs and diplomats.
"Since its very beginning over 150-years ago, the America's Cup has always been a stage for countries to show off their technology," said Michel Bonnefous, CEO of the organizing body for the 32nd America’s Cup, as he opened the show. "As China develops as a world power, the America’s Cup is a natural platform for it to demonstrate its technological, project management and sporting prowess."
The show, organized by the local branch of MTV, will be broadcast several times during the next few weeks on three of the national network CCTV’s channels to a potential audience of more than 350-million households.
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The America’s Cup trophy and the Louis Vuitton Cup
© ACM 2006 / Carlo Borlenghi |
Among the artists performing over the course of an entertaining evening were Zhong LiTi, Ling Zhi Xuan, Lu SiQing, Su YouPeng, Chen Kun, Hu Bing, He RunDong, Xia Yu, Chen Hao, Sun Nan, Fang Bin Bin, Huang Ying, Sun Yue and Fei Xiang. China’s number one idol, NBA player Yao Ming, apperared in a video supporting the participation of China Team in the 32nd America's Cup.
Prior to the gala on Saturday, the Louis Vuitton Cup, which is awarded to the top challenger, and the America’s Cup trophy spent some time sightseeing around China taking in many of the most famous sites, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.
Racing begins this season with the Louis Vuitton Acts 10 and 11 from the 11th to 21st of May. China Team, along with 10 other challengers and the Defender, Alinghi, will be racing in Valencia, the host city of the 32nd America’s Cup.
(Published on April 5th,2006)
