7th WUC Match Racing Officially Opens

LAGO DI LEDRO – The 7th edition of the World University Match Racing Championship was officially opened last night on Lake Ledro (Trentino, Italy), with a ceremony which saw the involvement of all athletes participating, their staffs, the International Officials & Delegations of FISU, CUSI, CUS, CONI etc., representatives of public and private entities involved in the event, dozens and dozens of volunteers involved in the organization, the Military forces. The event will last until Saturday, 5 July and see the best university sailors from all over the world compete in match racing.

‘After a year of preparation we begin this fascinating adventure’, Paola Mora, president of Sailing Lake Ledro, the Italian club hosting this WUC said. ‘Having met in Ledro young people from all over the world and to have the opportunity to show our territory to many people is a cause of great satisfaction for us. When you think of a sailing championship, the mind immediately goes to sea: I think sailing surrounded by the Alps, however, is equally compelling. The sport is always a source of cohesion among peoples of the World, letting together students, coaches, judges, teachers and volunteers to share during these days different cultures and experiences. Athletes here are the excellence of culture and the sport of sailing in the world. Their commitment in both fields preparing them for the most important challenges of their future.’

‘A heartfelt thank you goes to the already proven partnership between the organizers of the event’, Tiziano Mellarini, the Provincial Councilor of Sports added . ‘Today in Ledro we inherit what was left in the past few months by the 2013 Winter Universiade, a collaboration that will now be re-tested in this corner of Trentino. Ours is a land of sports, enthusiasm and passion for volunteering, and my best wishes to the participants is to bear witness to this experience and bring to their own countries great satisfaction and success.’

Today, 30 June, will see the first regattas, for the knockout stages. Some numbers: the 14 participating countries (Australia, Brazil, France, Great Britain, Singapore, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan, Poland, Turkey, Russia, the United States, Italy), involve 27 teams (19 for the Open category and 8 for the Female) for a total of 128 people, including athletes and coaches, and 15 officials. Regarding the boats, 11 of the type J22 and 4 UFO22 are used (boats used respectively for the Open Category and the Female Category). Also more than 80 volunteers are involved in the organization, including the Red Cross rescuers from the ‘Italian-Water Rescue’.

(Source: Paola Malcotti, WUCOC)