President Barack Obama personally greeted the sailors led by team boss Larry Ellison and invited them to a big photo opportunity next to the famous beaked jug. The meeting with Obama was the prelude to a PR tour on the East Coast
On Tuesday, the American BMW Oracle Racing team led by Larry Ellison had the honour of attending a major event. President Obama had invited the sailors to the White House to celebrate their victory in the 33rd Americas Cup. Ellison and his team won the coveted trophy in February, the first victory in 18 years for the Americans.
"We are very proud to have brought the Cup back to the USA," said software boss Ellison. "This team represents the accomplishments that are possible when talented young people pursue their dreams. We will be equally focused on winning the oldest trophy in international sports once again and defending our victory."
The USA won the Cup with a gigantic trimaran that was constructed in Anacortes in Washington State. Now the legendary beaked can arrived at the White House - for a victory celebration at the highest level. Ellison travelled with a large entourage, including Russell Coutts, skipper James Spithill, team spokesman Tom Ehmann and many others. Sailors from the Cup had already been invited to the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC once before. In 1987, President Ronald Regan received the icon Dennis Connor after he had brought the "jug" back from Australia.
For the BMW Oracle team, the appearance at the White House alongside Obama was the start of a PR tour of the US East Coast. On Wednesday, they appeared on the well-known CBS TV programme "The Early Show" in New York, before skipper Spithill opened the Nasdaq stock exchange.
The highlight, however, was Tuesday's reception in the East Room of the White House, where Mr Obama congratulated the sailors and looked at the signature of victory that is engraved on the trophy for each successful team. Mr President then spoke to team manager Ellison, skipper Spithill and CEO Russell Coutts about the regattas. Mr Obama said that although he was not a sailor, he was very interested in sailing aboard the big trimaran himself.
For both the BMW Oracle team and the President, the event was probably primarily for PR purposes. As a clean sport, sailing stands both for the preservation of the oceans and for a future with alternative energies. In the USA in particular, this is currently an issue that has had to be declared a top political priority.
Marc Bielefeld
Freier Autor
