THE state's economy is poised to reap more than $40 million from the largest international sailing competition to be held in Australia.
THE state's economy is poised to reap more than $40 million from the largest international sailing competition to be held in Australia.
With a budget exceeding $17 million, organisers of the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships have rolled-out a massive marketing and advertising campaign for an event featuring four times as many competitors as the 1987 America's Cup defence in Fremantle.
Tourism WA anticipates more than 5,000 visitors, including 1,500 sailors from 80 nations, will travel to Perth and Fremantle for the event, spending money on tours, accommodation, restaurants and entertainment.
In 2007, the federal and state governments committed $8.6 million and $8.8 million respectively for the championships, which is the key qualifying event for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Event director of commercial operations, Darren Beazley, said the Perth 2011 team had initiated a major brand marketing campaign with hopes that the cyan-blue triangle logo would be synonymous with the lead-up events prior to the championships.
He said the championships would be a not-for-profit event with a long-term marketing strategy to promote WA as the sailing hub of the world.
"If there is a residual at the end of the event, all the money will be going in to the sport of sailing," Mr Beazley told WA Business News.
The main revenue streams for the event will come from membership to Perth 2011, licensing of apparel and official products, corporate hospitality, as well as corporate sponsorships.
Mr Beazley said negotiations were under way to secure four major sponsors for the event as well as a major merchandiser, with the Perth 2011 team aggressively pursuing a presenting sponsor with a focus on markets in Europe and the US.
Tourism WA chief executive Richard Muirhead said Perth 2011's bid success was a result of a bipartisan commitment from the federal and state governments to bring world-class events to WA.
"I am confident that this event, combined with the natural beauty of our aquatic environment, will provide us with a great opportunity to showcase our state on a global stage," he said.
A contributing factor to Perth's successful bid to hosting the championships was the emerging nations program, a concept where up to 40 countries that were not represented at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in any sailing discipline will be invited to Perth for a series of intensive training courses designed to improve their chances at earning a place at the ISAF championships and the 2012 Olympic Games.
Perth 2011 event director John Longley said the emerging nations program was one of many firsts for the ISAF championships.
He said the organising committee would also invest in the latest technology to allow onboard cameras on competing yachts, while showing races on large screens along the Fremantle coastline.
