Organizers have "called on the public" to get behind the Volvo Ocean Race when the seven-yacht fleet arrives in Hong Kong from Melbourne next week, "heralding it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience to watch racing at its best," according to Chan Kin-wa of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. Hong Kong hosts the end of the fourth leg of the 45,000-nautical mile race, with the city the "only stopover in Asia from a total of 10 legs." Hong Kong Sailing Federation President Tong Yui-shing said, "We don’t know if we can bring the event back to Hong Kong in the future because of its [high running] costs and because there is stiff competition for hosting rights of having it in the city." Singapore and Sanya, of Hainan Island, are the only other cities in Asia that have hosted the event. Hong Kong is hosting the offshore race to "help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the reunification with China." The government is the event's main financial backer "to the tune of more than" HK$25M ($3.2M). That includes the "cost of setting up a festival village at the Kai Tak Runway Park" from Jan. 17-31. The festival will "feature a boatload of free sailing and entertainment, with family-friendly entertainment on offer daily" (SCMP, 1/8).
