BERNE - Swiss President Pascal Couchepin has sent a message of encouragement to the Alinghi crew facing Team New Zealand, saying the whole country is behind them in today's race.
"You have the overwhelming support of the Swiss Government and the Swiss people in your endeavour," he said in an open
letter to Alinghi boss Ernesto Bertarelli.
"Countless Alinghi fans in Switzerland will spend sleepless nights in front of their television screens cheering you along."
He said that for a small country with no access to the sea, Switzerland felt that having Alinghi race for the America's Cup was a remarkable achievement that would stay in people's minds for many years.
An Alinghi win would take yachting's top event to the Continent for the first time in its 152-year history.
But Couchepin steered clear of the question of where the next race might be staged if Alinghi won.
That decision will be made by the syndicate and the Yacht Club of Geneva.
Bertarelli has indicated he favours taking it to the Mediterranean.
Bertarelli, chief executive of Europe's biggest biotechnology firm, Serono, is an accomplished yachtsman.
He lured former Team New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts and tactician Brad Butterworth to head the Swiss team.
However, Couchepin said Alinghi was "flying the flag of Switzerland - multicultural, open to the world and creative".
"Multicultural because Team Alinghi's 15 nationalities are typical of a country where a third of the population are foreigners or descendants of immigrants.
- REUTERS
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