Govt Ready To Continue Hosting Monsoon Cup - Minister

KUALA TERENGGANU (Terengganu, Malaysia), Nov 23 (Bernama) -- The government is considering the possibility of continuing with the prestigious Monsoon Cup sailing event for after its maiden agreement ends in 2012. Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the contents of the existing agreement was being reviewed before announcing the government’s decision to continue with the championship beyond 2012. "We do not have a problem to continue organisng the event which has continued to receive tremendous response from local and foreign sailing fans. "We will be proud to support the Monsoon Cup being staged in Terengganu because it can raise the country's image as an organiser of world class sailing events," he told reporters after opening the 2011 Monsoon Cup here on Tuesday. He said Terengganu had all the facilities and organising capabilities to stage world class sailing events at Pulau Duyong. "Staging events like the Monsoon Cup can offer good returns because all the attention of international media will be focused on Pulau Duyong. The event will also be telecast worldwide, thus providing us a bonus to showcase and promote Malaysia," he said. The Monsoon Cup serves as the Malaysian leg for the international event, dubbed “The Formula One of Sailing”, which was formed in 2000 to unite the world’s best match-race regattas under one banner. The racing tour comprises nine events in different locations around the world with the Monsoon Cup being the final leg for the World Match Racing Tour title. Meanwhile, during the Monsoon Cup which offers RM1.39 million in prize money, Malaysia will be represented by Jeremy Koo from Team Abdullah Chan/KRT. (US$1=RM3.17) --BERNAMA Malaysia