Cullen hails joint bid with China

SPORTS Minister Martin Cullen has spoken of the ‘comfortableness of the relationship’ between Ireland and China, a country long criticised for its human rights violations and policies.

The Minister made his comments when discussing a joint Irish-Chinese bid for sailing’s Volvo Ocean Race.

Over €20million has been invested by Irish and Chinese businesses in the construction of the 70-foot ‘Green Dragon’ which commences its round-the-world bid in October.

The vessel was constructed in China’s southern coastal city of Zhuhai and docked in Galway at the end of July. Green Dragon is now undergoing sea trials off the west coast.

Speaking from Beijing, where he is attending the Olympics, Minister Cullen said: “This is a big global event that will have billions of tv viewers. I think it shows the comfortableness of the relationship between China and Ireland that we can enter a global event together.”

Cullen has high expectations for the event. “They’ve picked some of the best people from around the world. We’re looking forward to a really good performance,” he told China Daily, the official state English language newspaper.

Green Dragon will be skippered by Britain’s Ian Walker, a double Olympic medallist while three of Ireland’s most acclaimed professional ocean sailors, Damian Foxall, Justin Slattery and Ian Moore, are also on board.

Three Chinese sailors are partaking in the ongoing sea trials with one to be selected to complete for the competition formerly known as the Whitbread Round the World race.

The race which begins in Alicante, Spain will visit 10 cities including Galway and Olympic sailing venue, Qingdao here in China. It is the first time that the event will have visited Ireland and China

Continued Cullen: “I’m excited, the Irish people are excited and we hope to get the Chinese people excited.”

Meanwhile, the Minister admits his memories of the Beijing Games will endure for ‘years to come’.

He admitted: “When I go away from the Olympics and in years to come I think I will remember that night in the Bird’s Nest, I will remember the basketball, I will remember the boxing. Those have been fantastic days and nights.”