Flourishing Relations Between Two Sister Cities, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro

The Heineken Cape to Rio Yacht Race has become an institution in Cape Town, since its inception in 1971.
By: Rabbit in a Hat Communications
 
Jan. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- Throughout the years, this race has attracted the participation of yachtsmen from across the globe, as well as the many Capetonian onlookers that converge along the Table Mountain shoreline and surrounding viewing points such as Signal Hill and Lion’s Head. This year the race begins at noon on Saturday, 15 January with teams from South Africa, Brazil, India and Germany participating.
In 2011, for the first time in the history of this prestigious race, two teams of young sailors, from both South Africa and Brazil, will have the opportunity to race to Rio de Janeiro as The City of Cape Town has sponsored two yachts; one to be crewed by graduates of the Izivunguvungu Sailing School in Simonstown and the other by young sailors from the Grael Project in Rio. Both schools were set up as social initiative developments in their respective countries and teach sailing skills as well as regular schooling subjects to young adults from underprivileged backgrounds.
Today, the Heineken Cape to Rio Yacht Race is an icon for development and flourishing tourism relations between two sister cities, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro. These two exciting tourism destinations (and their countries; Brazil and South Africa) have strengthened relations since the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa as a result of the fact that Brazil is the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ host.
Not only will this race act as a vehicle to drive relations between South Africa and Brazil specifically, but also between South Africa and its BRICS counterparts (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). South Africa is the newest member of this group of key emerging economies (as of 2011) and the hope is that this event will foster even better relations between the five countries, as well as develop inter-destination tourism from within the alliance.
City of Cape Town Mayor, Dan Plato commented: “We look forward to this event every year and now more than ever; it plays an essential role as a vehicle of change and growth for our country. The race underlines a recent trade strategic partnership agreement signed by our two countries in July last year. The City of Cape Town is especially keen to see how our two sponsored teams do throughout the race – we will be watching closely.”
“The Cape to Rio Yacht Race is more than just a yacht race. It is a symbol of the strengthening of tourism and business ties on the historic sea route between Brazil and South Africa, one that goes back over 500 years to the voyages of Vasco Da Gama, Bartolomeu Dias and Pedro Cabral.  Cape Town and Rio have much in common – both are the primary leisure destinations of their respective countries and their citizens share a tremendous passion for their cities. The race is one of Cape Town’s most exciting annual events and we urge all Capetonians to support and embrace the event as it launches on Saturday”, adds Cape Town Tourism CEO, Mariette du Toit-Helmbold.

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For further information, please contact Cape Town Tourism’s PR and Communication Manager Skye Grove, skye@capetown.travel, +27 21 487 6800 or see www.capetown.travel.

Released for Cape Town Tourism by
Rabbit in a Hat Communications
Tammy White
+27 21 448 9705
+27 73 202 5041
tammy@rabbitinahat.co.za
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Source:Rabbit in a Hat Communications
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Tags:Cape Town, Rio De Janeiro, Yacht, Sailing, Boating, Brazil, South Africa
Industry:Travel, Tourism, Event
Location:Cape Town - Western Cape - South Africa
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