Come on... his eyes say it all!
Photo credit: Pierpaolo Carletti / Alinghi
Ernesto Bertarelli receives Italy's Special Award for the promotion of sailing
Rome, 27 February 2008) Alinghi team president, Ernesto Bertarelli, was honoured last night at the Audi Sailor of the Year gala for his successes in promoting the sport of sailing through his recent America’s Cup victory.
He was presented with the Special Award, dedicated to Paolo Venanzangeli, an Italian America's Cup journalist, who passed away a year ago, by his widow Bianca Gropallo.
“I was born in Rome and started sailing in Civitavecchia with my father, a sailing fan, so I am particularly honoured and very happy to receive this prize here in Italy for what we achieved during the 32nd America’s Cup with Alinghi and AC Management. We very much hope to return to the water soon. Thank you again for the award. I’m proud of it," said Ernesto.
The award celebrates Ernesto Bertarelli and Alinghi’s achievement in winning a second consecutive America’s Cup and the enormous impact that this first event in Europe has had on awareness of the sport. It recognises the scope of the 32nd America’s Cup in terms of AC Management that laid on an event, attracting an unprecedented six million visitors, 4,000 million TV viewers and distributing over 60 million Euros of net surplus among participating teams.
Giovanni Soldini and Pietro D’Ali winners of the 2007 Transat Jacques Vabre,won the Audi Sailor of the Year Award. End. - Alinghi.com
