The Ocean Race brought the spirit of ocean racing to the Our Ocean Conference 2024 starting on Tuesday (16 April) at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens, Greece.
On Monday (15 April), Ericsson 1 — one of the ‘legend’ boats that competed in the 2005-06 edition of the round-the-world yacht race — sailed into Marina Flisvos where Nature’s Baton was handed over by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Oceans, Peter Thomson to the Greek Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Oceans and coordinator of the conference, Dr Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou.
Greek Olympic medallists Sofia Papadopoulou, Sofia Bekatorou and Virginia Kravarioti also welcomed the boat at the dock.
The baton handover is part of the Relay4Nature, an initiative created to help to give the ocean a voice on the critical issues affecting our planet at the landmark events where decisions are made about the environment.
“Carried across land and sea to Athens today, Nature’s Baton brings to the Our Ocean Conference its message of connectivity,” Thomson said. “A universal commitment from around the world is required if we are going to succeed in reversing the decline in the ocean’s health. No healthy planet without a healthy ocean!”
The Relay4Nature arrives in Athens, Greece on Ericsson 1 | Credit: Austin Wong/The Ocean Race
Nature’s Baton — carrying the message of the critical role the ocean plays in regulating climate change and the wider health of the planet — is being delivered to leaders of the Our Ocean Conference as a reminder of the connection between these key ocean events.
Dr Avgerinopoulou said: “It is crucial to have the global ocean community here with us. Passing the message of ocean protection through sports is key as the threat is out for everyone and sport has the power to convey the message to a key audience: the younger generations.
“One of the main objectives of the Our Ocean Conference 2024 and also next year’s UN Ocean Conference in Nice is the ratification of the BBNJ treaty for the protection of underwater biodiversity in the High Seas. We also need to keep working to combat ocean plastic and microplastic pollution; make sure the blue economy sectors move towards a sustainable path; the shipping sector moves towards decarbonisation as fast as possible; and take care of the Mediterranean Sea, a very fragile ecosystem.”
On Wednesday (17 April), following the closing ceremony of the conference, Nature’s Baton will continue its journey to pass the message to the delegates of the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC 2025), which will be held in Nice in June 2025.
During Ericsson 1’s stay in Greece, the six-member crew will present the boat, her history and the educational program of The Ocean Race to Greek and international friends of the sea.
