With just 71 days to go to the Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus Denmark 2018 the new Aarhus International Sailing Center was officially opened today.
Denmark’s new home of sailing has immediately joined elite international company in being awarded the highest status by World Sailing and also gained the royal seal of approval from keen sailors, Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark.
“It’s a great day for the sport because the Center will be a magnet for developing talent,” Kim Andersen, president of World Sailing, said. “We see this all over the world where there are elite centres. People learn from each other across classes and across nations.
“Hopefully the Center and the Worlds will set new standards for how we grow the sport,” Andersen, who represented Denmark at multiple World and European Championships, added.“Sailing is backed by everyone in Denmark – the Crown Prince competes in the Farr 40 or Dragon – I always say Denmark isn’t a country it’s a coastline.”
Andersen and Crown Prince Frederik, both now more used to racing Dragons, hoisted a spinnaker on a 49er FX to mark the moment.
From July 30 – August 12, 2018, the Aarhus International Sailing Center will welcome 1,500 sailors from around 100 countries and an estimated 400,000 visitors. The sailors will be fighting for two prizes – medals in Aarhus and qualification for the Olympics. The Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018 is the first big qualification event for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and Enoshima (sailing).
“A world-class competition needs world-class facilities and the official opening of the Aarhus International Sailing Center marks the fulfilment of a promise that we made four years ago,” Lars Lundov, CEO of Sport Event Denmark, said. “It means a lot to Aarhus and to Denmark to be hosts. Denmark has a track record of delivering major sporting events – we’ve just staged highly successful Ice Hockey World Championships – and we hope this place will hold many good memories for the sailors, spectators and media. We’re on course for a great Sailing World Championships.”
After an inspection, which confirmed its high standard, the Aarhus International Sailing Center has become only the sixth facility in the world to be awarded Approved Centre Status by World Sailing.
The Aarhus International Sailing Centeris a jewel in the redeveloped Aarhus harbour area, Aarhus Ø. Designed by the architect firm Entasis, it looks out onto the World Championships competition area in the Bay of Aarhus and will act as a grandstand for the World Championship Medal Races.
“With the International Sailing Center and the upcoming Sailing World Championships we are cementing Aarhus’ position within the world’s elite of sailing,” Jacob Bundsgaard, Mayor of Aarhus, said.
Editor’s notes:
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Facts about the Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus Denmark 2018:
• Held every four years, the Sailing World Championships is one of the biggest global sailing event in the world and the principal qualification event for the Olympic sailing competition.
• Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus Denmark 2018 will include all 10 Olympic boat classes. Kiteboarding will be added to the programme for the first time.
• The ambition is to make the championships in Aarhus a unique and spectacular event, where sailing is made more popular and accessible than ever before.
• In terms of the number of participants, the Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus Denmark 2018 will be more than three times bigger than the event at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
• Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018 is the first big qualification for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and Enoshima (sailing).
• Held simultaneously with the Sailing World Championships in Aarhus, a large festival will provide opportunities visiting families to get out on the water.
• Dates: July 30 –August 12, 2018.
• The Hempel Sailing World Championships Aarhus Denmark 2018 are organised by The Danish Sailing Association, Sailing Aarhus, City of Aarhus and Sport Event Denmark.
• 1,100 sailboats
• 1,500 participants from approx. 100 nations
• 350-400 accredited press
• 1,500 officials, managers and coaches
• The event expects to draw 400,000 visitors to Aarhus.
• More than 800 volunteers
Facts about Aarhus & Denmark:
• Aarhus – or “Aros” as the city was called in the Viking Age – means “mouth of the river”.
• Aarhus is surrounded by water, with a 20km coastline and one of the world’s cleanest bays to the east.
• Denmark has 7,314km of coastline (You are never more than 50km from the coast in Denmark and usually much closer to a sailor).
• Denmark has a population of 5,602,628.
• Aarhus is Denmark’s second largest city with a population of 324,000. There are approximately 1.5 million people within one hour`s drive.
• Denmark has 270 sailing clubs.
• Sailing Aarhus is made up of five sailing clubs, who have hosted over 300 international regattas in the last 25 years.
• Denmark has won 30 Olympic sailing medals; 12 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze, more than any other Olympic sport.
• The Bay of Aarhus has an area of approximately 150km², water depth varies between 10 and 25m.