CALL FOR GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AS LOCAL BID UNLIKELY FOR THIRD VOLVO STOPOVER

Date Published: 14-Aug-2012

The government needs to acknowledge the huge economic benefit of the Volvo Ocean Race and provide the necessary support to win a third successful bid for Galway.

That's according to the CEO of Galway Chamber of Commerce Michael Coyle who says its loss would be a tragedy for the city and the entire country, which was showcased on an international stage.

His comments come as the organisers of "Let's Do It Global" say an application by the group for a bid to secure another Galway Volvo stopover now appears "unlikely".

Such bids must be submitted by next month from all countries wishing to be a host port for the 2014/2015 race.

However, "Let's Do It" organisers says the current not-for-profit funding structure is not right and that the system needs to change through initiatives such as government partnerships, as, they explain, is the case in many other host cities.