St. Petersburg is ready to host the finish of the Volvo Ocean Race, PortNews reporter quotes Knut Frostad, Chief Executive of Volvo Ocean Race, as concluding after visiting the city on the Neva river and inspection of the Race Village site in the territory of the Peter-and-Paul Fortress, where the Volvo Ocean Race will finish on June, 27-28.
The first start of the Volvo Ocean Race (formerly the Whitbread Round the World Race) was in 1973 in Great Britain. From 1997, the race bears its current name - Volvo Ocean Race and is held every four years (from 2005 – every three years). It is one of five largest sport events in the world. The race of 2008-09 is the tenth in its history. The current race started in Alicante, Spain in October and the finish will be held on June 27, 2009 in St. Petersburg, for the first time in VOR history. The Race Village will be arranged on the beach of the Peter-and-Paul Fortress, in the green area of the Hare Island. Special events dedicated to the race will be held in the city on the day of the finish.