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AMERICA'S CUP - ALINGHI VS. EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND
11 June 2007
The America's Cup is without a doubt the most difficult trophy in sport to win. In over 150 years since that first race off England, only three nations other than the United States have won what is often called the oldest trophy in international sport. For some perspective, consider that there had been nine contests for the America's Cup before the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896.
The America's Cup is a challenge-based competition where the previous winning Yacht Club makes the rules and hosts the event, often making it difficult for the challenging Club(s) to take the Cup home. Early in the history of the Cup, these obstacles were completely insurmountable and the Defender was never threatened. In fact, despite a couple of close calls, it would take 132-years for a foreign Challenger to beat the American Defender and win the Cup.
The 32nd America’s Cup Match begins on 23 June between Alinghi (the first European Team to win the America's Cup) and Emirates Team New Zealand. It is a ‘first to five’ series – the first team to win five races will win the America’s Cup.
