Rolex Extends Sponsorship
of Miami OCR for Seven Years
June 17, 2002 (Portsmouth, R.I.) –
US SAILING, national governing body for the sport, has announced
that long-time supporter Rolex Watch U.S.A. will extend its
Miami regatta sponsorship for the next seven years. Inaugurated
in 1990 and sailed on Biscayne Bay, the event is the USA’s
premier international one-design regatta that utilizes Olympic
and Paralympic boats and consistently attracts top sailing
talent from around the globe. Organized by US SAILING’s
Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC), it is an ISAF grade one ranking
event as well as a mandatory ranking event for both the US
Sailing Team and the US Disabled Sailing Team. The 2003 Rolex
Miami OCR is scheduled for January 28-February 1.
“Rolex’s commitment to this
regatta began this year when the company became title sponsor
of the 2002 Rolex Miami OCR,” said OSC Chairman Fred
Hagedorn (Chicago, Ill.). “An agreement is now in place
for an additional seven years, through February of 2009. That’s
incredible when you consider the time span is inclusive of
both the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympic Games. It provides a
stability that encourages the best sailors in the world to
faithfully commit to this regatta. In turn, this country’s
athletes are guaranteed exposure to top international competition
on these shores.”
The Rolex Miami OCR already enjoys a
reputation for competitive excellence, with many national
and international sailors considering it a prime training
opportunity. Over the past 13 years, 53 countries have been
represented, with an annual average of 404 sailors competing.
“We recognize the significant
impact the Rolex Miami OCR has on the development of elite
athletes in this country,” said Rolex Watch U.S.A. President
and CEO Walter Fischer (New York, N.Y.). “It is our
intention to support US SAILING in their efforts to continually
improve the regatta and build on its size and international
stature.”
Rolex Watch U.S.A. has been a sponsor
of the US Sailing Team since 1985 and the US Disabled Sailing
Team since 1998.
The Notice of Race for the 2003 Rolex
Miami OCR will be available Oct. 1, 2002. For additional information,
visit ussailing.org/Olympics/RolexMiamiOCR/
