At 10:00 AM on October 10, the pre-launch ceremony for the 2024 “Belt and Road” International Regatta (Beihai, China), organized and promoted by Arthur Sports, was grandly held at the picturesque Beihai Guan ling Bay marina. The event attracted 30 high-level sailing teams from various countries and regions, including Malaysia, Croatia, Turkey, Italy, France,
South Africa,Spain, Vietnam, Singapore, and Hong Kong, China, showcasing the vibrant international sports exchange under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Attending the ceremony were Li Li, Deputy Secretary of the Beihai Municipal Committee and Mayor; Li Quanhai, President of World Sailing; Wei He, Deputy Director of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Sports Bureau; Georgia Andreadi, Consul General of the Greek Consulate in Guangzhou; Azlan Abdullah, Executive Director of the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club in Malaysia; Mai Chengzhu, Deputy Mayor of Beihai; Wei Guiru, Committee Member and Deputy General Manager of the Guangxi Tourism Development Group; Ana Miskulin, Secretary General of the Croatian Association for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China; Levent Ozonur, Executive Director of the Turkish National Sailing Federation and Co-founder of Bodrum Sailing Center; Ye Jianhua, Chairman of the Guangxi Sailing Association; Li Baiqiang, Secretary-General of Beihai Municipal Government; and Li Caineng, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Beihai Tourism, Culture and Sports Bureau. At the ceremony, Mayor Li Li presented the flag to the captain of “Beihai”, officially announcing the commencement of the regatta. Speeches were also delivered by Wei He and Mai Chengzhu.
Wei He, Deputy Director of the Autonomous Region Sports Bureau, pointed out that the “Belt and Road” International Regatta is the first national-level sailing event themed around the Belt and Road Initiative, supported by World Sailing, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Party Committee, and the government, and co-hosted by the Guangxi Sports Bureau and Beihai Municipal Government. Since its inception in 2019, this international sports event has significantly promoted the development and popularity of sailing globally, earning high recognition from World Sailing and participating nations. It has played a unique role in integrating the Belt and Road strategy, fostering international friendly exchanges and cooperation, advancing the construction of the “One District, Two Cities, One Park, One Channel”, and promoting the development of the marine economy.
In his speech, Beihai Deputy Mayor, Mai Chengzhu warmly welcomed the participants and guests from home and abroad. He mentioned that Beihai, an ancient starting port of the Maritime Silk Road and a national historical and cultural city, is a vital hub connecting the Belt and Road. In recent years, Beihai has successfully hosted a series of major marine sports events and accelerated its pace to build a water sports base in southern China, striving to make Beihai a “paradise for marine sports”. The “Belt and Road” International Regatta, which has been held for six consecutive years, is a grand event that deepens cultural exchanges along the Maritime Silk Road and has received strong support from the governments and sports institutions of the Belt and Road countries. Beihai looks forward to working with countries and regions along the Belt and Road to enhance exchange and cooperation through marine sports, continuously deepening cooperation, and jointly turning the “Belt and Road” International Regatta into a major inter-regional event,contributing to the building of a closer Belt and Road community of shared future.
Subsequently, representatives of the sailors and referees took their oaths, expressing their determination for fair competition and impartial judgment. Li Li, Deputy Secretary of the Beihai Municipal Committee and Mayor, presented the flag to the captain of “Beihai” and announced the official start of the race. The event’s leaders and guests jointly sounded the horn, officially marking the start of the 2024 “Belt and Road” Regatta.
It is reported that the 2024 “Belt and Road” International Regatta will be held in four locations: Beihai, China, Malaysia, Croatia, and Turkey. Beihai, as the first stop, features hundreds of top-level sailors, making it the highest-level, largest-scale, and most participated sailing event in China this year. It will present a visual and passionate marine sports feast for sailing enthusiasts worldwide. Additionally, it serves as an important window for showcasing Beihai’s achievements as one of the first coastal cities in China to further open up to the world on the 40th anniversary of this designation.
This event is not only a high-level competitive spectacle but also brings a variety of “race + travel” experiences through a series of exciting side activities for participants and spectators. During the event, the organizers set up the “Belt and Road “International Regatta Village, featuring a brand market area, food and leisure area, outdoor interaction area, and public display area, closely combining sports events with tourism. It showcases Beihai’s beautiful scenery, cultural charm, and the thriving sports tourism industry. Citizens and visitors can enjoy high-level sailing races, participate in market carnival activities, taste Beihai’s cuisine, and experience its culture. Citizens and tourists not only get to watch high-level sailing competitions but can also participate in various market carnival activities, savor Beihai’s local cuisine, and experience its rich culture. This provides the public with more opportunities to get up close and enjoy the charm of water sports, attracting a large number of citizens and visitors, and injecting new vitality into the development of Beihai’s marine sports industry.
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