Nine extraordinary days in Genoa. From 24 June to 2 July, the arrival of The Ocean Race will transform the capital of Liguria not only into the sailing capital of the world but also into a popular tourist destination with a record-breaking programme of events and activities.
In a month’s time, the Ocean Live Park will be inaugurated at the Waterfront di Levante, the former Fiera di Genova redesigned by Renzo Piano, where the boats taking part in the world’s most challenging transoceanic regatta will arrive. The Ocean Race turns 50 years old and will be coming to Italy for the first time. There will be festivities all over Genoa with an extraordinary calendar of fringe events related to music, art, culture and plenty of entertainment.
“It will be a great success”, says the Mayor of Genoa, Marco Bucci – Hosting the final leg of The Ocean Race in Genoa is an incredible opportunity to promote our city, an extraordinary chance to take the name of Genoa everywhere. Hundreds of thousands of fans around the world will follow the arrival of the boats, an event we have worked hard on over the years and which makes us extremely proud. I am sure that we will get a valuable return for the city in the immediate future, thanks to the extensive promotion gained on the international stage. Genoa is ready to become the sailing capital of the world “.
Starting on 15 January in Alicante, Genoa and Liguria began a promotional tour to showcase their excellence, from food and wine to tourism and culture. “Genoa and Liguria are ready to welcome the Ocean Race, a world-class sporting event and one of the most famous regattas in the world”, says the President of the Liguria Region Giovanni Toti – “It will be a true international showcase that will bring tourism, draw attention to, and generate work for our entire region, which already plays a leading role in the nautical and blue economy and is increasingly involved in the sailing world“.
A competition and, at the same time, an adventure that focuses on the sea, with a strong awareness of sustainability. “It is an honour for Genoa and for the entire nation”, highlights Edoardo Rixi, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure, “to host the arrival of one of the biggest sporting events in the world. We invite everyone to Genoa and wish the crews fair winds “.
In a month’s time, we’ll witness the “Grand Finale” of a six-month-long challenge and a journey that has seen Genoa play a leading role for over three years. “Sustainability, environment, courage, sharing, equality, respect – these are the watchwords of this extraordinary event that we are proud to be able to host here in Italian waters”, underlines Evelina Christillin, President of the Steering Committee of Genoa The Grand Finale.
Ocean Live Park
The Ocean Race Village will open its doors on Saturday 24 June at 10am with the official opening at 4pm.From 10 am to 8 pm (on some evenings until 10 pm) the village will welcome the public to admire the boats, which are scheduled to arrive between 24 and 25 June. Admission to the Ocean Live park will be free of charge.
“It will be nine exciting days for those who love sport”, underlines Alessandra Bianchi, Councillor for Sport of the Municipality of Genoa. “Sailing will be in the spotlight, but we will also have a tasty appetiser for “Genoa European Capital of Sport 2024”. You’ll be able to try out numerous disciplines and experience some spectacular events in the artistic, cultural and technological fields as well. We will have areas dedicated to innovation and sustainability and we will bring concerts and entertainment for all tastes to the stage, generating important tourism promotion for our city”.
Sustainability.
There are two high-profile institutional events: the Mission Charter and the Ocean Summit. On Monday 26 June “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” will be held in the village, organised by the European Commission and the Municipality of Genoa with the support of the projects LIFE4MEDECA and BlueMissionMed. The event will host the first public presentation of the Shared Transition Agenda developed by the Covenant of Mayors. On Tuesday 27 June, at the Magazzini del Cotone, the Ocean Summit will be held, the last act of the Genova Process that over the last 12 months has brought together the world’s leading experts to write the first draft of the Charter of Ocean Rights to be presented to the UN.
There will be numerous workshops open to the public dealing with the field of sustainability. The One Blue Voice Immersive Experience will take visitors on a journey beneath the waves to discover the race that protects the ocean. In the Genoa Sustainability Pavilion, the works from some schools that have been working on the “Learning Programme”, will be on display, as well as the works of the Family Service Centres and the “productions” of the Work Education Centres of the Municipality of Genoa. Two mascots will welcome the little ones: Wisdom, the seagull of The Ocean Race, and Seawolf, symbol of Genoa The Grand Finale.
In the name of sustainability, the Genoa City Council’s Smart Mobility Department, with the cooperation of Amt and Genova Parcheggi, has launched a mobility system that will encourage the use of public and collective transport – train, bus, and taxi – to reach the Ocean Live Park and the Porto Antico, the venues for the main activities of the event.
Innovation.
The Jean Nouvel Pavilion will house the Innovation Village created by the Blue District. A large space where one can be amazed, entertained, navigate, and experience innovative solutions for the protection of the sea. The nine solutions identified through the Call for Innovation that respond in an innovative way to the challenges posed by environmental sustainability, the use of clean energy, the need to promote wellbeing, accessibility and enjoyment of the sea as a resource, and the circular economy will be on show.
Entertainment.
Inside the village there will be a “food” area with several trucks offering Ligurian and Italian specialities. Water will be provided by Iren thanks to a “a big fountain” from which everyone will be able to fill up their own water bottle to make the event “plastic free”. All the sectors of “excellence” in Liguria will find space in a specially designed area together with the Chamber of Commerce, including wine and food, historical workshops, tourism and innovation. There will be numerous stands: from ETT’s Immersive Camera, which accompanied the Genoa Pavilion’s world tour, to the bases of the Malizia, Guyot, Holcim, 11th Hour Racing and Biotherm teams, via the Hydrographic Institute of the Navy, Boero YachtCoatings and many other companies. .
Team.
Participation in the “volunteer project” with 282 sign-ups was met with enthusiasm. The Team will be featured in the Ocean Live Park in many activities and supporting visitors. The “team”’s contribution to this great event is extremely important. Patronages: Ministry of Sport and Youth, Enit, Ministry of Tourism, ICE, Navy, Liguria Region, Genoa Chamber of Commerce, Ports of Genoa, Confindustria Genova, MSC Foundation, Coni, Fiv, Ussi. Co-organiser: Porto Antico Spa. Partner: Iren. Sponsor: Free To X, Banca Passadore, Boero YachtCoating, Amico &CO, Deloitte. Supporter: Rina, ETT, Esselunga, Esaote, Ferrovie Italiane, Socrem, Movyon, Telepass, Fastweb, Netafim, Costa Edutainment – Acquario di Genova, Fabbrica Digitale, Sanlorenzo, Ignazio Messina & C., Leonardo.Sponsor of the Volunteer programme: Siat. Friends of Genova The Grand Finale: Ranieri Tonissi, Enel, Grimaldi Lines, Psa Italy, Gruppo Spinelli, Pirelli, Finsea, Genova For Yachting, Mussini Giorgio Portofino, Italmatch Chemicals, Asdomar, Villa Montallegro, Paul Wurth, Alfa Laval, Ita Airways, Fuori Muro, Nuovo Borgo Terminal Container.
Genoa under full sail
Genoa unfurls its sails to welcome crews, technicians, sportsmen and many visitors from all over the world with a calendar of events in the city with music, art, culture and plenty of entertainment. Many events will light up this early summer all over the city: from great concerts to shows in the squares, from the special edition of the Rolli Days (Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 July) to exclusive cultural appointments such as the exhibition Five minutes with Van Gogh, the extraordinary itinerary On the route of masterpieces, both at Palazzo Ducale, and the exhibition on ex-votos linked to the sea at the Diocesan Museum. In addition, tourists, sailing enthusiasts and visitors to the city will find a rich offer of shows in Genoa’s theatres. Piazza De Ferrari will be the centrepiece of the music festival, with four big concerts, all free of charge, and the electronic music of the grand finale on 2 July, which will run through the entire city centre.
“Genoa is getting ready to welcome the grand finale of The Ocean Race with an offer of events ranging from music in Piazza De Ferrari with big national and international names, for all ages, to culture with the Palazzi dei Rolli open for an extraordinary weekend”, commented Genoa City Council’s Councillor in charge of Major Events Federica Cavalleri – “And that’s not all: for the people of Genoa and visitors to our city there will also be an important theatrical offer in unique, open-air locations.It will be nine days in which we will see Genoa perhaps as never before, for a start to the summer marked not only by great sport, but also by fun and entertainment for everyone”.
The programme of all the events at Ocean Live Park is available at www.theoceanracegenova.com
The programme of all the events in the city is available at www.visitgenoa.it