January 03, 2003

SAILING: Louis Vuitton action heats up ... in the wrong way.: With the LV Cup Final only a week away, New Zealand members of the Swiss Alinghi sailing team have received threatening letters from "patriotic groups" accusing them of betraying their country. "... (T)he letters warned that the group would damage team members’ property and inflict violence on their families. They said they had tracked the movements of children and other family members, and gave personal details about one crewmember." And Alinghi haven't even won the cup yet; they need to win four races against Oracle BMW Racing in order to contest Team New Zealand for the America's Cup.

posted by worldcup2002 to other at 02:45 PM - 2 comments

It's also interesting to note that they have a special police division as well as a Minister for the America's Cup.

Barraclough said that the America’s Cup Division of the New Zealand Police was a special division formed for the event. There are 107 policemen in the division that is devoted to issues surrounding the Americas’ Cup.
107 policemen for a sailing race? If Oracle BMW wins the LV and, ultimately, the America's Cup, I wonder what San Francisco will do?

posted by worldcup2002 at 02:51 PM on January 03, 2003

Yeesh, that is absolutely ridiculous. I could see the heinous possiblities for something like this in soccer...but YACHTING?!?!? I don't mean for that to besmirch "the beautiful game," but considering the history of soccer hooliganism...

posted by PeteyStock at 03:31 PM on January 03, 2003

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