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9 May 2008, 01:37 pm

Telefonica Backs Spanish Team In Volvo Ocean Race

The key members of the Spanish Telefónica team

From left, Fernando ECHAVARRI, Pedro CAMPOS, Jack LLOYD, Jaime LISSAVETZKI, Iker MARTINEZ and Bouwe BEKKING

©Maria Muina/ Equipo Telefonica

Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09

At a press conference in Madrid today, it was confirmed that Spain's two-boat assault on the Volvo Ocean Race will be backed by Telefónica, the Spanish telecommunications giant and parent company of movistar.

The campaign is also supported by a raft of additional sponsors and is backed by the Valencian government and the Spanish Sailing Federation.

The campaign will again be spearheaded by Pedro CAMPOS (ESP) as CEO, while Bouwe BEKKING (NED), skipper of the Spanish entry movistar in the previous race, returns as Sports and Technical Director. Spanish Olympians, Iker MARTINEZ and Fernando ECHAVARRI are among the principal members of the sailing team, which will be based in the start port of Alicante.

Both boats, designed under an exclusive deal with Farr Yacht Design, will be differentiated by hull colour and named Telefónica Blue and Telefónica Black.

Announcing the details of the campaign, CAMPOS said he expected this edition of the Volvo Ocean Race to be particularly tough. "I am pretty sure this Volvo Ocean Race is going to be the fiercest one in the history of the race," he said.

"The second generation Volvo Open 70s and the new course represent a big challenge. We are going to have some new talent onboard, coming from the Olympic arena and the big boat circuit in Spain. This new bunch of guys, plus the experienced ones we have from the last race are going to develop into a really compact group," he added.

Volvo Ocean Race - www.volvoceanrace.org

Lizzie Ward