Volvo Ocean Race, the biggest offshore race and the longest sporting event in the world, started on Saturday in Spain, with China accounting for the largest number of participants.

Seven boats, which will visit 11 ports on five continents on the way to the final stopover in Gothenburg, Sweden in June 2015, departed from Alicante on Saturday. The seven teams are from Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, China, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark along with a joint team from the United States and Turkey.

The Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and industrial engines, is sponsoring the race. According to the company, it is the first time that an actual Chinese team is participating in the event.

The team, "Dongfeng Race Team", and all its sponsors are from China, while six of the 12 sailors come from the mainland. During the last Volvo Ocean Race in 2011-12, the Sanya municipal government in Hainan province sponsored a team, but most of the sailors were foreigners. The race will last for nine months and is scheduled to reach Sanya in February 2015.

To reach the finish line in Sweden, the seven teams will race 38,739 nautical miles around the world in what the organizers term as the ultimate human challenge.

"The Volvo Ocean Race provides a great opportunity to connect with the general public and showcase Volvo Group's role in today's society, as well as its strong drive to develop sustainable transport solutions for tomorrow," said Olof Persson, president and chief executive officer of the Volvo Group.

The company is not only sponsoring the race, but also using the event as a platform to share its core values of safety, quality and environmental care which are woven into the race with its clients and the public.

"Since I am a sports fan, the sailing race has caught my attention. But I also accidentally got to know a lot about Volvo's big trucks and construction equipment during the last race in Sanya," said Yu Huan, a white collar worker. "I would love to attend the event if I get a chance next year also," he said.

A pavilion located in each stopover port has been named "Race Village" and will be managed by the Volvo Group companies. It will offer the public and corporate guests insight into the brand and its various products. Technology and safety aspects of the company's vehicles will also be showcased during the sailing event.

The race is also a special tool for the company to build and enhance business relationships because only during the occasion, current and future customers, dealers, sales experts, sports enthusiasts, media and various stakeholders will all be present under one umbrella, said company officials.

dujuan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 10/15/2014 page18)