Mr. Niall Reddy, Acting Chief Executive, Bord Fáilte today announced that the UIM Formula One Powerboat Grand Prix of Ireland will take place on the River Suir in Waterford City on September 13th – 15th next.
The spectacular event is sponsored by Bord Fáilte’s International Sports Tourism Initiative and is round eight of the 2002 UIM Formula One Powerboat World Championship series. Earlier rounds have been staged in Portugal, Italy, Finland, Hungary, Germany and Malaysia.
The City of Waterford has been nominated as the venue because of its excellent water facilities and centrally located marina, which offers ideal spectator friendly viewing.
Powerboats, with 2.6 to 3 litre engines capable of reaching speeds in excess of 200 km per hour and driven by pilots from 23 nations will compete in Waterford, in an event to be televised in over 60 countries worldwide.
Commenting on the UIM Formula One Powerboat Grand Prix of Ireland, Niall Reddy, Acting Chief Executive of Bord Fáilte said, ‘I am delighted that the UIM F1 Powerboat World Championship is coming to Ireland and will be staged in Waterford City. It is exactly high profile international sporting events of this nature that we are targeting through Bord Failte’s International Sports Tourism Initiative.
‘Ireland has excellent year round water sport facilities with over 5,600 km of scenic coastline and hundreds of lakes and rivers. Bord Fáilte has identified water sports as a very important tourism attraction and this prestigious event will further help to position Ireland as a destination for watersports.’’
The provision of sponsorship for major international sports events, such as the UIM F1 Grand Prix of Ireland, is in keeping with the objective of Bord Fáilte’s International Sports Tourism Initiative, introduced by the Irish Government in 2000. The Initiative has an annual budget of €7.62 million to identify and sponsor high profile sporting events that have the capacity to enhance Ireland’s reputation as a premier sports tourism destination.
The Initiative’s support for other water sport activities has included Ireland’s hosting of the European Fireball Championships in 2000, the World Laser and Laser Master Championships in 2001, the annual PWA Ireland Wave Grand Prix, the Round Ireland Yacht Race 2002 and the biannual Ford Cork Week.
Other international events supported by Bord Fáilte’s International Sports Tourism Initiative in 2002 include: the IAAF / Sport Ireland World Cross Country Championships at Leopardstown Racecourse last March, the Seve Trophy at Druids Glen golf club in April, the British Touring Car Championships at Mondello Park in June and the up coming WGC – American Express Golf Championship at Mount Juliet on September 19th – 22nd
For further information on Bord Failte’s International Sports Tourism Initiative, visit www.sportireland.ie
For information on the UIM F1 Powerboat Grand Prix of Ireland, visit www.powerboatracingireland.com
John Corcoran
Slattery PR
T: 01 6614055
F: 01 6614106
M: 086 6086671
E: jcorcoran@slatterypr.ie