The state of Kerala will host the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race. The eight competing crews of the race will reach Kochi on December 3 which is the second stopover of this year's competition. The 10-day event at Cochin Race Village in Willingdon Island will highlight a series of events including Kathakali dance performances, a sky diving show, snake boat races and other entertainment programmes. During the event, the people of entire region are expected to witness festivity and daredevil performances of the competitors.

 

Besides the boat race and cultural programmes, the event will host a microlite flying show and a navy cup regatta. The Volvo Ocean Race which takes place after a gap of four years is one of the most entertaining and daring team sporting events. This year's edition has 11 ocean legs around the world and Cochin Port is the only destination chosen in India. The competition has started its journey from Spain on October.

 

The race is supposed to cover a total distance of 39,325 nautical miles over nine months and will end in July 2009 at St. Petersburg, Russia. The event will also have four luxury cruise vessels. Since it is the first time that any Indian port has been selected as stopover for an international event, the state tourism department has grand arrangements. The Kerala tourism department and Cochin Port Trust (CPT) will spend an amount of Rs 300 million for the event.