The Ocean Race, whose final will be held in September in Montenegro, is an excellent opportunity to promote the beauty of the Bay of Kotor and its underwater world, as well as the country’s maritime tradition, said Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.
He made the statement during a meeting in Davos with the race director, Richard Brisius.
According to Spajić’s office, the beauty of the Bay of Kotor will captivate the large Ocean Race family in September.
“The most famous yacht race will finish its European odyssey in Montenegro this year, and the slogan ‘Connecting Europe,’ chosen by the organizers for this year, symbolically announces our country’s entry into the great European family,” the statement reads.
Spajić emphasized that Montenegro is ready to utilize every opportunity to further showcase its beauty.
“Now, more than ever, we need to show people in the European Union that we deserve to be part of their community, and the Ocean Race will help us on that path. As our people say, ‘the eyes do not lie,’ so we want as many people as possible to see Montenegro in its most beautiful form,” Spajić highlighted.
The Ocean Race, he added, is a great opportunity to extend the tourist season.
“We are pleased that it will take place in the second half of September. This adds extra value to the event for us,” said Spajić.
He emphasized that it is also an excellent opportunity to promote the beauty of the underwater world and Montenegro’s maritime tradition.
The race, as announced, will begin in the Baltic Sea and then pass through the North Sea, the English Channel, across the Atlantic Ocean, and finally reach the Adriatic Sea and Montenegro.
“This is not just a sporting challenge, but also an exploratory endeavor, as well as part of a larger scientific project, as the yachts are equipped with modern technology to collect data vital for monitoring the state of the world’s oceans,” the statement reads.
Brisius mentioned that the competitors are eager to see Montenegro, as they are explorers at heart and look forward to discovering a new destination.
“It’s very significant that the race ends in the Bay of Kotor, as it’s a long journey, during which you often think about the finish line, and this time, that finish line is Montenegro,” said Brisius.
He also stated that teams must generate at least 30% of the energy used on the boat during each leg from renewable sources—solar energy, wind, and hydro.
Brisius added that, using modern technologies, they are collecting a large amount of data that scientists use to study the condition of the seas.
“For example, we have special filters that collect microplastics two meters below the surface, so we know that it is increasingly present in the oceans,” Brisius added.
Spajić’s office also announced that a special summit will be organized in Montenegro next year.
Spajić, according to the announcement, proposed that the summit be held in May, during the 20th anniversary of Montenegro’s independence restoration.
