Prada Cup Finals: Event Status Feb 17th
Seems the Italians are requesting to be declared winners and challengers for the Cup Match vs Team New Zealand if current Prada Cup Finals do not continue. I really don’t see a valid reason to halt the regatta, and to be held without public on the usual venue and restricting navigation as for sure the tough NZ Gov measures on level 3 dictate.
The idea that keeping population in a total lock down will make any possible virus of this type to go away or solve anything is pure factual nonsense, just look Argentina, +8 months of total lockdown for NOTHING.
Get real people, and stop overreacting, we are all grownups, those in risks groups plus those afraid to stay at home and let others with due cares to continue with their lives.
I’m with Prada in this one, just go out and race, with due protocols etc etc etc…..
Update: Read Prada pdf just received release “COR 36 CALLS FOR RESUMING RACING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE”:
Below Report sent by Prada Cup media.
17th February 2021
AMERICA’S CUP EVENT (ACE) POSITION ON CONTINUATION OF RACING:
In these uncertain times, as the permitted Event Organiser responsible for the delivery of the 36th America’s Cup presented by PRADA in Auckland under the Host Venue Agreement with NZ Government and Auckland Council, America’s Cup Event Limited remains committed to maintaining as many aspects as possible of the Event as originally planned.
This includes the ambition to maximise the possibility of safe public engagement at the event for Aucklanders and Kiwis from around the country, as well as the commercial benefits to local businesses, event sponsors and partners which includes the New Zealand Government and Auckland City. We are also mindful of the global broadcasting rights holders that are taking the stunning images of our country with thousands of people enjoying the event and broadcasting them into living rooms and devices around the world.
America’s Cup Event Chair Tina Symmans said, “As event organisers, we have spent a considerable amount of time since Sunday evening looking at all possible scenarios. Like the majority of events around the country this weekend, the ramifications of running the remainder of the event need to be considered in an environment which is highly uncertain due to the latest COVID-19 concerns.”
ACE has consulted with the America’s Cup Minister Stuart Nash and senior Council officials and one consideration has been to postpone the current schedule of racing and events in the best interests of the public and all stakeholders given the current COVID-19 environment.
The position of ACE is based on one of two options based on the Government’s review of alert levels at 4:30 this afternoon:
- If the alert levels drop to level 1 in time, then racing will resume this weekend.
- If the alert level remains at 3 or 2, which obviously entails restrictions in gatherings and difficulties with events, racing and event activations would need to be rescheduled to recommence the Prada Cup Final on Friday 26 February. To respect the original timeframe scheduled between the Prada Cup Final and the America’s Cup Match, Race 1 of the Match would subsequently begin a week later on Saturday 13 March with the intention of racing still being completed by 21 March.
This morning the Challenger of Record (COR36) has made their position very clear in stating their desire to race from tomorrow despite COVID Alert level 3, to complete the PRADA Cup final by the 24th February in accordance with the existing PRADA Cup conditions.
They have also stated that if the racing program cannot be completed by Wednesday (24th) they intend to declare the leading point scorer the winner of the PRADA Cup and Challenger for the America’s Cup Match. Under the current points situation, that would be Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team.
“There is no guarantee as to what COVID-19 Alert Level Auckland or New Zealand will be operating under. If the event is faced with operating under COVID-19 Level 2 or 3, plans are in place to ensure the continued delivery and conclusion of the 36th America’s Cup presented by Prada within the scheduled dates.” Explained Symmans.
“Clearly this would have potential implications for public participation which we are trying to avoid, however the intention of the potential rescheduling will give the best possible opportunity to see the event run with maximum engagement and benefits for public and stakeholders.”
You clearly have a poor understanding of infectious disease control. The relatively short NZ lockdown will allow them time to contact trace, test tens or hundreds of thousands of people and put anyone infected into quarantine. Then life can again return to normal without any significant restrictions or risk of infection (unlike almost every other country in the world). The teams should be considering themselves lucky to be in New Zealand for this regatta where it can be conducted safely. Any ordinary person from outside NZ can not even travel there because of Covid restrictions. The situation in Argentina is completely different because of the land borders with neighbouring countries, the disease being wide spread throughout the community prior to lockdown and social behaviours/resistance to the measures put in place. A lockdown was never going to work there. NZ and Australia are both in a very different situation and are fortunate to be able to control spread of the disease with only occasional short lock downs. If we completely closed our borders to the rest of the world there would be no risk of disease but this is not practical hence we live with the occasional lock down and no immediate prospect of travel outside the country.
As for the Prada Cup, surely the teams can wait a few days or even weeks if required in order to complete this regatta under these unprecedented circumstances. Even the olympics has had to be postponed a full year because of Covid (and may still end up cancelled) so why are we upset about a minor delay in Prada Cup.
You clearly have a poor understanding of total lockdowns actions and real implications on this Pandemia. Aside tough liberty and work restrictions, as an example 30k people died in Arg in 2019 and past years average on Flu. Now reported 50k on this new virus for 2020, how many on Flu same year? None statistics available, same World Wide, look for same data in NZ and AUS lets see what you get. Prada is there to RACE and this was organized with special situation you name in mind beforehand. They need to continue racing asap with proper protocols and due care. Stay home please, don’t you move and take care. Cheers.
You’re an epidemiologist for your day job are you? Or you specialise in public health in some way? Do let us know your medical credentials so we can bring your evidence-informed rant to the attention of the W.H.O.
Yes, sadly over 50,000 deaths total in Argentina but just 909 in Australia and 26 in New Zealand. Australian and New Zealand economies both currently growing at rates higher than immediately before Covid outbreak despite occasional but brief lockdowns and massive reduction in tourism incomes. Clearly the current approach to managing Covid is working for Aus and NZ but this doesn’t mean it will work elsewhere and I don’t suggest it should be adopted elsewhere but you should not criticise the approach to managing this crisis that has been adopted in AUS and NZ when it is so clearly working for us here. Cheers.