Tour rocks up in Qingdao

Exhibition match race to be held as part of 'Celebration China'

The World Match Racing Tour will host an exclusive exhibition match race regatta in Qingdao, China as part of ‘Celebration China’, a unique festival being held as a prequel to the 2008 Olympic sailing events at the end of April in Qingdao.

Celebration China was officially launched yesterday at a press conference in Beijing. Backed by the Government of Qingdao, under the auspices of the Sailing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games, ‘Celebration China’ is an international festival, scheduled for the Chinese May Labour Day holiday, April 30th to May 4th. The five-day multi-faceted event is expected to attract over one million visitors in Qingdao, which is known as the Sailing City of China. The festival will comprise five major components:

1. World Match Racing Tour Exhibition Races featuring America’s Cup skippers
2. Extreme Sports Event - headlining top athletes from the world of skateboarding, BMX biking, inline vert and freestyle motocross
3. Fashion Show with Music Extravaganza - starring a host of Chinese and international talent
4. International Wine Pavilion - offering fine wines from around the world
5. Art Exhibition - presenting the work of innovative Chinese artists

Capstone Global,appointed by the Qingdao Government, is the official event and sponsorship coordinator.

“The countdown to the Beijing 2008 Olympics has begun and the significance of this pre-Olympiad celebration in China is not to be underestimated” commented Michael Scordino, Celebration China Spokesperson and CEO of Capstone Global. “With full backing from the Government of Qingdao, the combination of international and Chinese cultural and sports exhibitions is expected to draw in substantial business and consumer interest. Rapid GDP growth and the rise of the consumer opportunities in China have been well documented. With this showcase, China is opening its doors to international business. It will give a new impetus to international trade with China and will highlight what the city of Qingdao has to offer.”

Supporting the promotion of Celebration China, MySpace China will be one of the official media partners of this exciting festival ( Here's hoping the Great Firewall of China doesn't get in the way... Ed)