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If an idea doesn’t seem absurd in the beginning, there is no hope for it. challenge Albert Einstein

Argo is all about challenging the common concept of “normality”, bringing it beyond the usual understanding of everyday life. th 34 America’s Cup The goal is to show the world that it is possible to reach great objectives even if one is disabled, and that in sport like in life, barriers can be overcome The Challenge within the Challenge if one is passionate, professional and work in a great team. to the next America’s Cup with an The Challenge within the Challenge is to participate to the next international team of sailors America’s Cup with an international team of sailors and disabled athletes.

and disabled athletes Sailing offers the chance to compete at the highest possible levels on par regardless of disabilities. Lars Grael, Brazilian, twice Olympic medallist, living legend for Olympic Class, at the moment one of the best sailors in the world even though he lost a leg during a regatta, is Argo’s skipper.

Since 2006 one strong and universal message, communicated by common people, people outside of the common standards: wecanucan

www.argochallenge.org wecanucan

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Main milestones Skipper: Lars Grael 32nd America’s Cup from 2006 onwards Lars Grael, 45 years old, Brazilian. The first athlete who has Here are some interesting numbers and statistics about last accepted Argo challenge. Today, he symbolizes the project edition of America’s Cup in Valencia: and he is a constant point of reference for the development March 2006: official presentation during Winter Paralympic Visitors Games of Torino 2006 and patronage of Italian Institutions. of the sailing progress and communication. • 1.818.740 is the number of visitors to Port America’s Cup for the 2007 season (since April 1). • 68.254 is the record number of visitors for one day (Tuesday May 1). • 5,3 million total number of visitors to the 32nd America’s Cup venues (since Marseille Louis June 2006: Lars Grael wins for Argo the Star Class Benetti Lars is a myth for sailing: Vuitton Act 1 in 2004). International Trophy, Viareggio (Italy). • 221.747 visitors have seen the Expo ‘There is no second. From America to Alinghi’ in April and May. bronze medal at the Seoul Olympic Games, 1988 • 135.381 people have visited the House of the Cup since opening in 2005. June 2006: inauguration of our base in Gaeta at “Base Nautica • Over 500 boats docked in Port America’s Cup from April 1 to May 31. bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games, 1996 • 1 million maps of Port America’s Cup given out in the El Corte Inglés centres in Valencia. Flavio Gioia”. Guests August 2006: ONU gives the “welcome” to the Argo project. He is a public figure in Brazil, where he has important • 4.000 guests will be taken on the water by the event organisers. political and managerial responsibilities. He was president • 25.000 guests will pass through the Foredeck Club by the end of the 32nd America’s Cup. • Over 100 Ford courtesy vehicles operate every day in Port America’s Cup. September 2006: purchase and rigging of former America’s of Federação Brasileira Vela e Motonautica. Although the Cup 12 Meter Class Yacht French Kiss”. accident during a sailing race in 1998, in which he lost his WEB leg, he has gone on winning to the highest levels: • 11.239.225 visits to www.americascup.com (April 1 to June 3 2007). “French Kiss” wins the 12 Meter Class Challenge, • Visits by country (top three): Italy (3.692.868), Spain (1.612.469), United States (1.324.728). October 2006: • 83.081.485 page views on www.americascup.com since 2004. first place in all regattas, during Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez with a 1° price Brazilian Star Class Championship, 2002 • Over 700.000 visitors to Live Sailing (Virtual race coverage). mixed crew of sailors and disabled sailors. 1° price South American Star Class Championship, 2005 • 600.000 visitors to Internet TV in 162 countries. 2° price 12 Meters Class World Championship, 2005 TV presentation of the book “Argo. A modern story, May 2007: 1° price “Benetti” Star Class International Trophy, 2006 • 1.700 hours broadcast in 2007 (up to April 30) in over 150 countries that receive images beyond sailing” realized with graphic design by Roger Pfund. 1° price on French Kiss at “Les Voiles de Saint Tropez”, 2006 of the 32nd America’s Cup. • Audience of 928 million people in 2007 (up to April 30). 1° price South American Star Class Championship, January 2008 June 2007: public show of French Kiss in the centre of Torino. • Over 30 rights-holding broadcasters. 1° price Brazilian Star Class Championship, May 2008 • Over 150 countries receive live coverage of the 32nd America’s Cup. 1° price ex-aequo with Atalanta II at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup World • Up to 33 cameras are in use at any one time during racing. September 2008: Argo Challenge, on board Atalanta II gains Championship, in the Mini-Maxi ORC/IMS Class, September 2008 • Over 540 people are on-site, employed by rights-holders. first place ex-aequo in the Mini-Maxi ORC/IMS at the Maxi Yacht • Over 130 ACTV production people. 3° price, bronze medal, World Star Class Championship, August 2009 Rolex Cup World Championship. • 400 hours of production of live TV in 3 galleries. 1° price, Brazilian Star Class Championship, September 2009 Press October 2008: Argo Challenge has been admitted as Challenger • Over 50.000 articles related to the 32nd America’s Cup published since 2004. to the XXXIII America’s Cup in representation of Club Nautico Gaeta. • Over 1.800 international journalists working for 416 publications, radio and TV stations. have been accredited for the Louis Vuitton Cup. • Over 8.000 journalists worldwide have received 960 32nd America’s Cup press releases. Argo/French Kiss in Vittorio Emanuele Square. Torino, July 2007 Argo Challenge and Media Team Why to support ARGO

Televisions Heiko Kröger, gold medal Paralympic Games Sydney 2000 and Argo Challenge will be an important competitor in one of first price in the World Championship Class 2.4 Open in 2001. the world’s five principal sporting events. CNN, CNBC, SKY, Rai, La7, RTL, TF1, TF3, ESPN, Rete Globo, Grp, Nomination as sailor of the year Rolex-ISAF in 2001: “as a disabled The dimensions and values of the America’s Cup are compared Tele7, Quarta Rete, Sport TV Brazil, Sailing Channel, Yacht & Sail, sailor, Heiko has shown to be able to win also in high level Open today with those of the Olympics, Formula 1 and the Soccer Televisione Svizzera Italiana. events”. World Cup. Damien Seguin, a rising star for sailing. He is world multi- champion, gold medal in Athens 2004 and silver medal in Beijing The key words of this challenge on the seas, which dates 2008 in 2.4 Class. Solitary sailor in Figaro Class. from 1851, are: Newspapers and magazines Jens Kroker, gold medal in Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and myth 2009 World Champion in Sonar Class. La Stampa, La Repubblica, Il Giornale, Il Tempo, Avvenire, Italia challenge Oggi, Cinque Giorni, City, Nice Matin, O Globo, Tuttosport, Il Sole 24 Niki Birrell, the youngest member of the British sailing team at performance the Paralympics 2008 and 2009 World Champion in SKUD 18 Class. Ore, Corriere della Sera, Las Provincias, Gazzetta dello Sport, Milano emotions Finanza, Bolina, FV - Fare Vela, Euro-Nautica, Mondo Barca, Nautica, Paul Ryan, experienced Irish sailor and Paralympic sailor in Solo Vela, Main Sail, Giornale della Vela, Estetica, Sportweek, Espresso, Sonar Class. ITC Professional, Made 4 Sports, Torino Sette, Seahorse, Yachting in Argo Challenge and its message wecanucan are a unique Keith Burhans, sailor and member in US Sonar Class Team. Costa Smeralda, Eco Mese. inititiative and they represent the value of the people who Umberto Panerai, Olympic silver medal in water polo, grinder overcome their limits. and athletic trainer of Luna Rossa America’s Cup team. Web Loic Touzè, experienced French sailor and famous for his To share all these values and to support Argo Challenge is oceanic crossing. one of the best opportunity to get worldwide visibility with Alex Zanardi, coming from car racing, hand bike... to sailing. substantial press coverage. www.argochallenge.org Great champions at high levels in international sailing world are One million visitors from March 2006 (Google Analytics). ready to come onboard. Argo Challenge will represent the Yacht Club and the Nation Google that will provide the best support to the project. Results for Argo Challenge - 549.000 (January 2009). Paolo Scutellaro, who has been America’s Cup team manager and multi-world champion will be in charge of the team with his long experience to guarantee a very high professional level.

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