President Chiulli opened up new horizons in China

Union Internationale MotonautiqueThe UIM – F1 H2O circus was successfully involved with three spectacular GP’s in China. The cities of Linyi, Liuzhou and Shenzen hosted respectively the third, fourth and fifth leg of the 2010 UIM – F1 H2O World Championship. China, which hosted also the last race of the UIM 2010 Aquabike Classpro World Championship at Liuzhou, confirmed once more to be an ideal arena for powerboating.

The UIM President Raffaele Chiulli attended the last fascinating racing event in Shenzhen which was well organized and seen by over fifty thousand of excited spectators. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone as China’s first economic reform zone, Shenzhen is now one of the most developed areas of China and its GDP per capita ranks first among China’s major cities. Next year Shenzhen will also host the World University Games.

“I am very pleased to have attended this great event”, told the UIM President Chiulli after his visit to China. “China is, and will be more and more, a pillar for the future development of our sport. I was honoured by the warm hospitality received in Shenzhen by the leading institutional and sport authorities. This was the 16th F1 H20 Grand Prix race in China which clearly means that China has a great interest and passion for our sport. I want to congratulate the Chinese GP’s organizers and our UIM contracted promoter for the great job done year after year to reach such a level of performance and professionalism. I am also very pleased that upon invitation of the Mayor of Shenzhen Mr. Xu Qin, we have discussed and found a solution for a joint strategic approach to further develop powerboating in this area”.

The UIM President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli discussed at the Shenzhen municipality the opportunity, proposed by the Mayor of Shenzhen Mr. Xu Qin, to create a UIM permanent multidisciplinary water sport training centre for the Asian Region. “We are happy that, being the UIM now fully recognized by the IOC and therefore in line with the Olympic principles and values, the basis to create a UIM permanent multidisciplinary water sport training centre for our young drivers and talents have been set” said President Chiulli. The local authorities confirmed that they will make available to the UIM all necessary support and infrastructures. President Chiulli confirmed the importance that such a UIM training centre may have for the UIM, for the future of our sport and for the whole region.

“What they are doing here in China for Powerboating it’s a remarkable and appreciated effort. The participation of tens of thousands of spectators at each racing site and the extraordinary media coverage are remarkable. We are looking forward to further strengthen the relationships with our Chinese partners” concluded President Chiulli.

The Media stage The VIP stage

The start of the Shenzhen Grand Prix The race

Francesco Cantando, the winner of the Shenzhen GP The UIM President Raffaele Chiulli awarding the trophies to the F1 GP winner

President Chiulli and Mr. Xu Qin, Mayor of Shenzhen, after their friendly and fruitful meeting President Chiulli with Mrs. Wu Yi Huan Vice Mayor of Shenzhen

The Prize Giving of the F-4S Grand Prix at Shenzhen
The meeting at the Shenzhen municipality where the basis to create the UIM permanent multidisciplinary water sport training centre have been set.