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12 April 2005, 11:36 am

Olympic Gold Medalist Joins Cup

Nokia Oops Cup 2005

Helsinki, Finland

Sydney 2000 Olympic Games gold medalist in the 49er and Laser European and World Champion, Thomas JOHANSON (FIN), will skipper the 60 foot trimaran TietoEnator in the Nokia Oops Cup.

JOHANSON, who sailed his last 49er regatta in the 2004 Olympic Games where he came eighth, is now focusing on bigger and even faster boats. His team is full of talent and experience both from dinghy and offshore sailing. They are going to challenge the other teams in the Nokia Oops Cup and try to break records in the various offshore races including Round Gotland race, Round Sjaelland Race and Fjaeder race.

'I have been involved in Olympic sailing for the last three Olympics and now is the right time to take the next step.' JOHANSON said in a press conference held in Helsinki, Finland yesterday.

The Nokia Oops Cup is a sail racing competition for Formula 60 trimarans that includes City Races and Offshore Races in the Nordic countries. Sailed since 2001 the event now includes a Double-handed Offshore Race between two Nordic and Baltic capitals, during which only two crewmembers are allowed onboard. The winner of Nokia Oops Cup is the boat with the best overall result from all the City Races and Offshore Races combined.