Qingdao establishes sailing association.

On May 27, the Qingdao Olympic Sailing City Development Association, or QOSCDA, was established in Qingdao, which is chaired by Xia Geng, mayor of Qingdao and targets the inheritance of the Olympic spirit of 2008.

According to the Qingdao Sports Federation, the QOSCDA is an organization of the public interest. It is approved by the Qingdao municipal government, and registered by the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, for its first batch of 90 members, of which 42 are individual members, and 48 are unit members.

The International Sailing Federation issued a letter of congratulation, expressing its hope that the establishment of the association will take full advantage of the material and spiritual heritage of the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing events to promote the development of sailing sports in China as well as the world so as to better benefit the whole world with the valuable treasures of the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Regattas.

Mayor Xia said the establishment of the association will vigorously carry forward the Olympic spirit and take full advantage of the material and spiritual heritage of the Olympic Sailing Regatta to further unite and mobilize all sectors of society, to strengthen international exchange and cooperation and promote the development of culture, education, sports, youth and people with disabilities in Qingdao.

After the establishment of the association, it will host international cooperation activities including 2010’s Qingdao International Sailing Week and the Summit Forum of the Sailing City Mayors and International Olympic Sailing Sports to further promote the development of sailing sports in Qingdao.

Mayor Xia geng is delivering a speech at the ceremony.

Qingdao establishes sailing association.

By Dai Yan (China Daily Shandong Bureau)

Editor: Li Jing