In a festive ceremony at the historic Casino del Bel Respiro in Rome, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni officially presented the 38th America's Cup. The oldest and most prestigious sailing race in the world will be held in Italy for the first time in the competition's long history. In her speech, Meloni emphasised the enormous importance of the event for the country, particularly for the economic development of southern Italy.
Historic premiere for Italy
The head of government was visibly proud that the America's Cup is now coming to Italy for the first time. She described the competition as a "global event that involves millions of enthusiasts around the world and represents a unique, extraordinary synthesis between tradition and the future, between cutting-edge engineering and competitive spirit". Organising the event in Naples is a great opportunity for the whole of Italy, but especially for the south of the country.
"I am sure that this event will help to strengthen the South, which has rediscovered its dynamism and pride in recent years." The south is evolving from a formerly backward region into a driving force of Italian development - dynamic, ambitious and attractive for investment.
Extensive initiatives planned
The Prime Minister announced that the government was planning numerous initiatives to fully utilise the potential of the America's Cup. "We want this event to leave a long-term, deep and lasting mark on our country," explained Meloni. Specifically, she mentioned plans to integrate sailing into schools and combine it with teaching in the STEM subjects (maths, IT, science and technology).
Naples at the centre of the sailing world
In his speech, the Mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, emphasised the city's historical connection to the sea. He said: "The relationship between Naples and the sea is historic. Naples is one of the great coastal cities of the Mediterranean." Manfredi was particularly pleased with the plans to develop the Bagnoli neighbourhood as part of the preparations for the America's Cup. "We are transforming Bagnoli into a beautiful place - we are building the Naples of tomorrow," he explained.
Grant Dalton, Co-CEO of the defending champion Emirates Team New Zealand and the America's Cup event, emphasised the importance of Italy for sailing. He pointed out that 25 per cent of the media coverage of the last America's Cup came from Italy. Dalton also paid tribute to the twelve Italian America's Cup campaigns, from the famous Azzurra campaign in 1983 to the last event in 2024.
