[ad_1]
Wealthy owners of America’s Cup sailing teams in New Zealand might miss the opportunity to see these teams in action as they cannot secure spots in New Zealand’s managed isolation facilities.
Radio New Zealand reported on Thursday that Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS UK team leader, Patrizio Bertelli of Italian challenger Luna Rossa and several high profile personalities associated with the US team American Magic have been granted visas to come to New Zealand. Zealand but have no places yet. in isolated hotels.
New Zealand operates a system whereby anyone traveling to New Zealand – mostly returning citizens and permanent residents – must obtain a voucher guaranteeing a room in a remote hotel before taking a return flight.
Most of the isolation centers run are currently full of New Zealanders who have returned home to live with their families over Christmas, have returned for compassionate reasons, or are definitely returning after living abroad.
With the isolation system close to capacity, some New Zealanders are already being fired and places have not been found for the team leaders.
Ratcliffe, who heads chemicals group INEOS, Bertelli, who founded fashion brand Prada, and US backers Magic Hap Fauth, Doug De Vos and Roger Penske can only hope that positions will be vacant before the start. challenger races in January.
Races kicked off Thursday in the America’s Cup World Series, a warm-up event that is not part of the official America’s Cup regatta.
The teams themselves, sailors and shore crew have been granted exemptions to enter New Zealand as essential workers, as the Cup is believed to bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the neo economy. -Zeeland. The owners of the team were granted visas on the same basis.
American Magic supporters were granted visas in June and Bertelli and Ratcliffe in July and November respectively, Radio New Zealand reported.
New Zealand’s America’s Cup Minister Stuart Nash said his team was working on a solution.
“We understand that the owners have invested a lot of money here, so it’s a really good balancing act to get it right,” Nash said. “Meeting the needs of Kiwis abroad who wish to return home, but also ensuring that the men and women who have invested millions of dollars there can participate.
[ad_2]
