HAINAN, China, March 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Yang Yiguang, deputy director of the Department of Culture, Radio, Television, Publication and Sports of Hainan Province, China, disclosed at a press conference for the 8th Round Hainan Regatta 2017, that the event organized by Hainan Ocean Race Co., Ltd. had been a major success, providing substantial momentum to the growth of the island's burgeoning regatta industry. Four recent events are expected to initiate a trend of sailing teams from around the world lining up to take part in events held in Hainan.
Four recent events provide the synergy that has created the necessary momentum:
1. Nine Chinese authorities, each having in some measure oversight of sporting events, including the General Administration of Sport of China and China National Tourism Administration, jointly issued the Water Sports Industry Development Plan which calls for classifying the Round Hainan as a national professional sailing competition in November, 2016.
2. In January 2017, the provincial government of Hainan issued interim administrative measures laying out a framework for the organization of sailing events, specifying the coordinates of the nautical area to be placed under the province's jurisdiction as well as the regulations and inspection procedures concerning sailing events taking place within the jurisdiction. Hainan is China's only province to release such administrative measures, demonstrating its commitment to offshore sporting events. The enactment of the measures will act as a catalyst for the take off of the province's sailing industry, putting in place all the elements needed to transform Hainan into an ideal destination for the staging of world-class sailing events.
3. World Sailing announced on January 22, 2017 that Sanya, the city on the island that serves as its recreation center, will host the 2017 edition of the Youth Sailing World Championships. More than 400 sailors from over 60 countries and regions are expected to compete on the waters off Hainan Island between December 9 and 16, 2017.
4. Sanya also agreed on February 15, 2017 to become both a team partner and a host port for the 2017-18 and 2019-20 editions of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is yet another top-level sailing event to be held in Sanya following the Volvo Ocean Race.
For more information, please visit http://www.hnoceanrace.com/.
