Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney will update the Cabinet on Ireland’s bid to host the 37th America’s Cup following the news Cork Harbour has made it to a final list of potential locations to hold the AC37 sailing competition in 2024.
News of the 'memo being brought to cabinet' underlines the seriousness of how the state is now treating the prospect of landing one of the world's biggest sporting events.
Ministers will be told this morning that Cork Harbour has been proposed as the country's host venue.
The America’s Cup takes place every four years and requires preparation and planning over a 30-month lead-in period.
The America's Cup is the world's biggest sailing event.
It has taken place in New Zealand on the past three occasions but is expected to be held elsewhere in 2024.
According to media reports this morning, Coveney – a long time promoter of Cork Harbour and a sailor himself – has been working closely with the Taoiseach and the sports minister, Catherine Martin, over the last few months to bring the lucrative international sporting event to Irish shores.
The scene in Auckland Harbour in March as spectator boats gather for America's Cup racing Photo: Studio Borlenghi
As Afloat reported previously, New Zealand is the current holder of the cup, the oldest trophy in sport which predates the modern Olympics by 45 years.
However, the New Zealand government is unlikely to agree on terms to stage the next event there for the fourth time, so an international competition has been ongoing to win the hosting of the 2024 competition.
Ireland is understood to be shortlisted and is one of two alternatives under consideration.
Racing takes place over a period of three to four months and the teams are based at the host venue for at least six months prior to the start of the competition and for as long as three years in the build-up period. Photo: Studio Borlenghi
World's top three sporting events
The America's Cup is recognised as the third largest sporting event globally after the football World Cup and the Olympics, in terms of longevity, economic impact, and media exposure it delivers to the host venue.
As Afloat previously reported, a team of specialists visited Cork Harbour in June and were accompanied by Mr Coveney to assess everything from a site for a team village and local facilities and attractions, as well as the essential racing elements such as wind speed, tides, and the racing circuit.
