Premier Highlights America’s Cup Hosting Bid
In the House of Assembly today [July 11], Premier Michael Dunkley highlighted the successes that Bermuda has enjoyed on the road to bidding to host the 2017 America’s Cup, following news that the island had been narrowed down to two finalists, alongside San Diego, California.
Premier Dunkley said, “With Bermuda making it to this final stage of the bidding process, the island will host America’s Cup World Series races no matter the outcome of the final venue selection, which will mean an influx of people to Bermuda’s shores for possible events in 2015 and/or 2016.
“If Bermuda is ultimately successful, the America’s Cup has the opportunity of being a spectacular, milestone event for our island. It will give us unprecedented international exposure and we also anticipate that the economic benefits from hosting this event would provide a substantial and very welcome boost.
Video report on last year’s America’s Cup:
“In the words of Sir Russell Coutts, Director of the America’s Cup Event Authority, Bermuda has presented a compelling case to host the next America’s Cup,” continued the Premier
“I want to publicly thank the Minister of Education and Economic Development, Dr. Grant Gibbons, and his team of Government technical officers and private sector partners, especially Mr. Peter Durhager, Mr. Mike Winfield, and Ms. Jasmin Smith, for their dedication to this monumental cause.
“Together they and other members of the team have worked tirelessly to make sure that our bid was first class.”
The Premier’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker I rise this morning to highlight Bermuda’s success thus far in our 2017 America’s Cup bid.
Mr. Speaker, by now you and the members of this Honourable House will be aware that Bermuda has been shortlisted as one of the final two venues to host the America’s Cup in 2017.
We are up against San Diego to host the Cup.
Mr. Speaker, the official announcement came late Tuesday afternoon from the America’s Cup Event Authority.
And I don’t mind telling you and the Honourable Members, that when I received the word in Cabinet and informed my colleagues, we couldn’t contain our enthusiasm.
Mr. Speaker, with Bermuda making it to this final stage of the bidding process, the Island will host America’s Cup World Series races no matter the outcome of the final venue selection, which will mean an influx of people to Bermuda’s shores for possible events in 2015 and/or 2016.
And if Bermuda is ultimately successful, the America’s Cup has the opportunity of being a spectacular, milestone event for our Island.
Mr. Speaker, it will give us unprecedented international exposure and we also anticipate that the economic benefits from hosting this event would provide a substantial and very welcome boost.
Other countries that have had the distinct privilege of hosting the America’s Cup have recorded multi-million dollar figures in terms of revenue generated by the event.
For Bermuda, it would certainly mean an acceleration of development and investment in several industry areas on the Island.
It would mean an increased demand for transportation, accommodation, retail and hospitality services.
We would anticipate an investment in upgrades and additional capacity in our hotels and tourism product, and this will ultimately result in an increase in jobs in our construction and tourism sectors – all key industries which drive our economy.
Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the tremendous amount of work and effort that has gone on behind the scenes by our Bermuda organizing team to advance Bermuda’s chances.
Mr. Speaker, in the words of Sir Russell Coutts, Director of the America’s Cup Event Authority – Bermuda has presented a compelling case to host the next America’s Cup.
And I want to publicly thank the Minister of Education and Economic Development, Dr. the Hon. Grant Gibbons and his team of Government technical officers and private sector partners, especially Mr. Peter Durhager, Mr. Mike Winfield and Ms. Jasmin Smith, for their dedication to this monumental cause.
Together they and other members of the team have worked tirelessly to make sure that our bid was first class.
Mr. Speaker at this current stage, we are singularly focused on the next phase of the bid process and on generating commercial sponsorship in support of the bid. It is anticipated that a final decision on the venue to host the America’s Cup Finals will be determined before the end of the year.
In closing Mr. Speaker, I want to share this sentiment with not just my colleagues in this Honourable House but the wider community and our listening audience.
Since the announcement, I have followed the discussions in various forums… on talk radio, on social media, in the blogosphere… and I recognise that sailing may not receive the kind of high profile attention as perhaps football or cricket – but lest we forget Mr. Speaker, Bermuda has a very rich and treasured maritime and sailing legacy that is woven into our the history. Furthermore Mr. Speaker, Bermuda has a sterling reputation among sailors in the international community.
And it is my hope that with the buzz being generated by Bermuda’s potential to be the host of the next America’s Cup, it will perhaps spur some of our young people who wouldn’t otherwise consider getting involved in sailing, to discover more about the benefits of the sport and all that it has to offer.
So Mr. Speaker, I’ll end on this note.
Hosting an event of this magnitude on our shores will require the support and participation from all sectors of our community. The benefit potential for Bermuda is something that we should all be cognizant of and it will require a unified, community effort from everyone.And, Mr. Speaker, if we are ultimately successful in securing the 35th America’s Cup in 2017, I very much look forward to joining with all of Bermuda, including my colleagues across the aisle, in showcasing our hospitality to the world.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-
Too bad the PLP are on a mission to ruin this Bid. Do you think the AC Executive is not looking at what is going on and thinking, how the hell are we going to have them host this when their workers will be striking, unreliable and overpaid?
@Steve Davis…
What an unbelievable toxic comment.
Where has the PLP threatened this event? Where are the striking workers? The event is NOT even at the shoreline and YOU blame the PLP?
STOP THE PROPAGANDA AND SPIN. It’s as if you are just hoping and praying that your prediction comes to past or, is this a deflection from the fact there is NO mention of the cost to the public purse?
No mention of what it cost to put together the bid nor what the event will cost from the public purse.
But you sure do need a monster so that we are deflected from the financial costs, and of course the scapegoat is the PLP, as you beam them into the future to destroy the event.
I commend you, it’s becoming desperate and lacking credibility, but still you persist.
London, England
This event will undoubtedly rely on a large degree of cooperation and involvement from the civil service, particularly public transport. Unless you were born yesterday, you will realize that since the OBA came to power the Unions have become increasingly hostile and staged a number of wildcat strikes. In addition to these strikes there have been several marches and protests, even threats of rioting against the Government for looking to enact the recommendations of the SAGE commission, the current PRC debacle and not to mention the planned march on Governors residence.
For the most prestigious, widely watched and heavily invested sailing event in the world. Do you think the organizers of this event will want to host it in a country that could potentially descend into civil and social turmoil. Do you think that they will want to host it in a country that is so heavily unionized that there could be severe disruptions without a moments notice due to a PLP/BIU wildcat strike to hotels and transport? The answer is NO THEY WONT!
On top of that, do you think the thousands of foreigners descending on our shores to visit and work here during this event are going to appreciate the open Xenophobic and homophobic behavior of the PLP and it’s right wing supporters? NO THEY WONT!
So if the PLP continue down this path then we could very likely watch this event and economic opportunity crumble before our eyes. The PLP do not want the OBA to succeed under any circumstance and if this event puts a feather in the Governments cap, the PLP will try as hard as they can to stop that. Have you seen any behavior from the opposition in the last 18 months that is supportive of the Government or the economy? Deflection and distraction is all we continue to see from the PLP.
The costs vs the economic benefit will need to be justified for sure, the understanding is that there will be a great deal of Bermuda’s corporate community involved in the financing of this project, that is unless the PLP have done their level best not to chase them off the Island by then.
Just this once can we put aside the political knives and swords and ask what can we do to make this happen? If the America’s Cup comes to Bermuda it will, in part, be because the organising group believe that all of Bermuda is behind it. And if it does come to Bermuda it will create the economic stimulation the Island needs and all Bermudians will, in one way r another benefit.
So on this subject can we not try and get behind the effort, not fight each other, not try and make political points, just support Bermuda’s effort to get this event.
Can we do that?
@Steve Davis…
First, let’s deal with the REAL elephant in the room, disruptive behaviour should be blamed on both political parties, so please do not forget the most recent chaotic political manoeuvre, the removal of Craig Cannonier by the OBA. He was forced aside and the transparent report of his infamous Jetgate dealings? Buried along with his premiership.
The union is hostile towards the current government? Everyone involved is going to have to work very hard on their communication skills. There is no magic bullet for the level of mistrust between both parties, as once the OBA walked into meetings with the unions but failed to invite the PLP to those meetings, politically the unions and the PLP re-bonded and the OBA became deeply suspect; attempting to divide and concur backfired.
Strange, not one word of your post hints at what the cost of the international sports events will cost Bermuda, whether that be the bid or the event itself. Yet the OBA wants blind faith from Bermudians? Now even I have developed a phobia to blind faith.
You guys keep throwing out the comments xenophobia and/or homophobia, but please show me where the OBA have attempted to educate, inform and/or work in the community to put fears to rest? Where is the information on their position of PRC holders – silence.
@Swordfish…
Yes, we can put aside the political knives by PUTTING THE TRUTH ON THE TABLE. What is the cost of the event? Be honest, be transparent and STOP using the prestige of this event to camouflage what is essential to know – THE COST TO THE PUBLIC PURSE?
As I mention above, blind faith is dead, you wanted to truth from Cannonier and WE want the truth from YOU.
Can we have that?
London, England
@Steve Davis…
First, let’s deal with the REAL elephant in the room, disruptive behaviour should be blamed on both political parties, so please do not forget the most recent chaotic political manoeuvre, the removal of Craig Cannonier by the OBA. He was forced aside and the transparent report of his infamous Jetgate dealings? Buried along with his premiership.
The union is hostile towards the current government? Everyone involved is going to have to work very hard on their communication skills. There is no magic bullet for the level of mistrust between both parties, as once the OBA walked into meetings with the unions but failed to invite the PLP to those meetings, politically the unions and the PLP re-bonded and the OBA became deeply suspect; attempting to divide and CONQUER backfired.
Strange, not one word of your post hints at what the cost of the international sports event will cost Bermuda, whether that be the bid or the event itself. Yet the OBA wants blind faith from Bermudians? Now even I have developed a phobia to blind faith.
You guys keep throwing out the comments xenophobia and/or homophobia, but please show me where the OBA have attempted to educate, inform and/or work in the community to put fears to rest? Where is the information on their position of PRC holders – silence.
@Swordfish…
Yes, we can put aside the political knives by PUTTING THE TRUTH ON THE TABLE. What is the cost of the event? Be honest, be transparent and STOP using the prestige of this event to camouflage what is essential to know – THE COST TO THE PUBLIC PURSE?
As I mention above, blind faith is dead, you wanted the truth from Cannonier and WE want the truth from YOU.
Can we have that?
London, England