Today at 1230hrs is the first official press conference of the Barcelona World Race, marking the opening of the pre-start period, prior to the opening of the Moll Barcelona World Race Expo on Saturday 18th December
The final finishing touches were being completed today to make ready the huge Barcelona World Race Expo, which will open on Saturday 18th December, when visitors will have their first chance to meet first hand the 30 skippers forming 15 teams from eight different nations who are due to set off around the world when the second edition of the Barcelona World Race starts on Friday 31st December 2010.
The futuristic 4500 square metre exhibition space will offer a complete range of entertainment and information for all the family from Saturday’s opening through the race start period, until January 6th.
Inside the massive orange and grey temporary building today the work teams were setting the final details in place, as a group of actors rehearsed on the stage.
“The building and interior work has taken more than one month to complete, with between 80 and 200 people on site at any one time to make sure we are ready on time.” Explained Pere Sarquella, Operations Director for the Fundació Navegació Oceánica
There are two main areas contained within the Expo, a sea scene area which will host the marine related activities and the Barcelona World Race Tapas Bar where 13 of the best bars of the Catalan capital city will offer tapas and drinks.
In the Expo there is also an interactive area where visitors will be able to try computer simulations and gain valuable information about the spectacular event which is about to unfold, the Barcelona World Race. And, after the race has started the first live video conferences will be broadcast here. There is nautical library and sailing book area.
And each of the 15 teams and many of the key race sponsors have their own stand area to display information about their team and products.
There will be live action and activity all day long, from 1000hrs each morning until the spectacular sound and light display the Symphony of the Sirens at 2200hrs each night. The morning will largely be given over to kids and the sea, including a daily show with Captain Jaume Esparrec (ESP) (Captain Asparagus) who will be battling the Barcelona World Race against Captain Barbaroja (ESP) (Captain Redbeard) on another boat.
Each afternoon there will be activities including round table discussions, book presentations, and each early evening pre-start, live interviews with the Ocean Stars, the co-skipper duos.
In the evenings there will be live music with different genres fully represented from pop rock and indie to traditional rumba Catalan music.
Outside the Expo hall there are two water pools, one with 15 radio controlled boast corresponding to each of the IMOCA Open 60 teams. Also visitors will be able to get have a go in small catamarans.
Visitors will also have access to the Race Fleet Dock which will allow them to walk the dock and to see the boats and their cutting edge technology up close and personal. The race rules stipulate that the boats must be in Barcelona by midday Friday.
From Barcelona World Race
