This national celebration with non-stop entertainment and not least the maritime festivities in the harbour area will ensure that Kristiansand is the hub of Norway during these exciting days from  July 29 to August 1 2010.

The Tall Ships Races is an international event with young people, and for young people under the direction of Sail Training International. It is the annual regatta for small and large sailing ships, which is organized in different European cities. The regatta’s aim is to promote good relationships between young people through different activities whilst the ships are alongside.

The host cities also organise events for hundreds of thousands of people who join in this festive extravaganza. In 2010, all of Sørlandet (Southern Norway) will be invited to create the largest event ever to be held in our region. Kristiansand is the homeport for the beautiful sailing ship, Sørlandet, a favourite icon for our maritime connections as well as a symbol for us as the host city.

The vessel will, of course, be our ambassador for the Tall Ships Races 2010 and will naturally be at the centre of the event. The arrangement is to be held over four days and will offer an extensive cultural programme for participants and visitors. Local and regional businesses are invited to contribute and consequently will have the possibility of profiling themselves to a large section of the public. The huge interest in the Tall Ships` Races ensures that the run-up period to this event will also be of interest to potential sponsors. The host cities enjoy great attention and interest far and wide and profit enormously from the focus that the city attracts. Our focus in Kristiansand will be on the environment and the whole event will be carried out with the highest possible environmental profile.

Tall Ships Races demand very high standards for the environment programme from the host cities. Kristiansand will strive to show ourselves as the environmentally friendly city we want to be known as, with future-oriented solutions within transport, waste disposal, energy and in recruitment. Our sponsors and partners will have the possibilities of marketing themselves locally and regionally, as well as internationally. There will be a great need for suppliers before and during the event. The environmentally friendly profile will lead to the Tall Ships Races in Kristiansand being a very attractive arena for marketing products and services.

Drawing attention and attracting interest to the host city Kristiansand will bring great benefits from the international interest in the opportunities offered by our region. We will have the chance to show the enormous growth in our business and commercial life and highlight the need for more workers. Tourism will also play a key role in contributing to communication with the vast numbers of potential visitors. We will ensure that arrangements will be in place for valuable and meaningful activities before and during the event and that there will be high levels of participation by children and young people. The maritime environment, school sector, institutions, associations and individuals will have the possibility of using the Tall Ships Races as an inspiration in their work.

Visitors will experience Kristiansand as an attractive and exciting city. Opportunities for formal and informal meetings will be organized where crews, visitors and locals can get to know each other and develop friendships. This event will impact on the whole region, especially the harbour area. More than 100 sailing ships will create a flamboyant framework for putting our city on the map. The celebrations in the centre of the city will be on a grand scale with entertainment the whole daylong. This is a celebration involving everyone in Sørlandet, and held on a scale never before experienced in our region. It is a party for the people by the people and is set to have far-reaching influence in the future.