BEIJING, July 24 -- The Volvo Ocean Race, one of the world's top-tier regattas, is coming to China's coastal city of Qingdao next year with all eyes set on the potentially huge sailing market the Middle Kingdom offers. Other than the America's Cup and the Olympic Games, the Volvo race is probably the world's most prestigious sailing competition. It will make its first-ever stopover in China when the fleet arrives in Qingdao next February. Qingdao is also the host city of the Beijing Olympic sailing competitions.

Sailboats compete during the practicing game of the 2008 International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) Qingdao International Regatta in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, May 10, 2008.

Organizers have been active in promoting the event here. Their ambitious promotion plan includes the launching of a Chinese website, an online sailing game and a 10-day celebration with a high-level in-port race once the fleet arrives. The nine-month, 30,000-nautical-mile race will appeal to Chinese sailing fans, in other ways, as well. The regatta will include a boat built by McConaghy International, a Sino-Australian joint venture formed by China's JinLi Composites and Australia's McConaghy Boats. The fleet may also feature a Chinese crew, which would be the first such crew in the race's history.

"We expect to attract more Chinese youth to take part in sailing when the Volvo Ocean Race comes to China," said Li Quanhai, vice-president of the Chinese Yachting Association. "Although sailing is a relatively new sport in China, its growth is amazing."

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