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Sir Keith Mills, Rod Carr OBE, Nick Masson, Leslie Ryan, Andy Green
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Sir Keith Mills, British America`s Cup
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Sir Keith Mills at the launch of ORIGIN, Britain's new America's Cup team
Sir Keith Mills, Rod Carr OBE, Nick Masson, Leslie Ryan & Andy Green at the launch of ORIGIN, Britain's new America's Cup team
New British Sailing Team Sets Sights On America’s Cup Glory
February 2007: It’s just over a month and a half now since the launch of TEAMORIGIN and it has certainly been a busy time for the start-up team.
We have been overwhelmed by the support and response we have received since the announcement – in the first week we received over 250 enquiries to the website alone. We are delighted that so many people are getting behind the campaign and by producing a monthly newsletter we aim to keep you up to date with all the latest developments from within the team. We are currently working on responding individually to all the email enquiries we have received, and we hope that this TEAMORIGIN NEWS ONE will give you an initial update in the meantime.
So what have we been up to?
Our focus has been mainly on business planning and strategic documentation so lots of ‘behind the scenes’ activity, essential in creating the best possible platform for the future of TEAMORIGIN competing in the 33rd and 34th America’s Cup events.
Read more news here: TEAM ORIGIN NEWS ONE
January 2007: Sir Keith Mills has launched a ground-breaking British bid for the oldest trophy in international sport
Sir Keith Mills, the British businessman who ran London’s victorious bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, has announced he is to create a new British America’s Cup sailing team. The team, to be named ORIGIN, will comprise some of the world’s leading sailors and boat designers from the UK and beyond with the aim of winning the America’s Cup and bringing the world’s longest running sporting event back to British shores for the first time since its inception over 150 years ago.
At the announcement on the 4th January at the Design Museum in London, Sir Keith Mills revealed that ORIGIN will participate in at least two America’s Cup campaigns, likely to take place in 2009 and 2011 respectively. ORIGIN’s crew members, boat designers and management teams will be recruited over the next six months, and will be announced following the completion of the current 32nd America’s Cup event taking place in Valencia from 23rd June to 7th July 2007.
ORIGIN, whose name is a reference both to Britain’s involvement in the creation of the America’s Cup in 1851 and to the creation of a new, fresh and innovative force in this sporting arena, is being formed by Sir Keith Mills to build on Britain’s unprecedented yachting heritage. It follows in the wake of recent successes enjoyed by Skandia Team GBR, the British Olympic and Paralympic sailing team which has won more medals for Britain than any other sport in the last two Olympic Games, and the achievements of Britain’s numerous round-the-world ocean racing heroes.
ORIGIN will be based in the UK, bringing valuable economic impact to the local area that is chosen to host the team. The venue for the team’s base will be selected for its facilities, sailing conditions and communications links, and will be decided in the next six months.
The team will be funded through a combination of private and commercial investment. With the substantial growth of the event in recent years from a media, marketing, hospitality and fan base point of view, sponsorship of the team represents a unique marketing opportunity for international companies trying to reach a global audience. ORIGIN’s commercial team will commence discussions and negotiations with potential investors and sponsors during the coming months.
Sir Keith Mills, Team Principal of ORIGIN, commented:
“We intend to build a team capable of winning the America’s Cup to ultimately bring the Cup back to Britain for the first time since 1851. Britain is the world’s leading sailing nation and we hope this is the dawn of an exciting venture that will create sporting history.
The reason that we have announced now is that there is much to be done while the current 32nd America’s Cup competition is underway. We will be contracting team members, establishing our UK base, acquiring the necessary assets and discussing the opportunity with prospective syndicate members and sponsors. In essence, we are officially ‘open for business'!”
Rod Carr, Chief Executive of the Royal Yachting Association, commented:
“British sailing has never been more successful than it is today. We are the world’s strongest sailing nation, our Olympic medal count is higher than any other British sport, whilst ocean racing heroes such as Dame Ellen MacArthur and Dee Caffari have ruled the waves. In my view there are three peaks in competitive racing. Britain has already scaled the heights in the Olympic and offshore arena and I believe we have the talent and expertise to create a winning America’s Cup team.”
Michel Bonnefous, CEO America’s Cup Management, said:
“Having a British challenge for the 33rd America's Cup is fantastic news. Britain is where the oldest sports trophy begun and it goes without saying that the UK is well-known for being a great sailing nation. I wish good luck to Sir Keith and to his team for this fantastic project.”
Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport, commented:
“The America’s Cup is undoubtedly one of the world’s leading sporting spectacles. Bringing the event to Britain would not only have significant economic impact, it would also be a great showcase of modern Britain, and an ideal compliment to the London Olympic Games in 2012. Sir Keith is a leader who has proved he can create winning teams, both in business and in sport. We wish him and his team fair winds in this exciting new venture.”
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