THE VOLVO Ocean Race organisers were dealt a massive blow last week when the Government refused to provide the €400,000 needed to pay outstanding debts incurred by the event which brought record crowds to the west. Let’s Do It Global, the group responsible for hosting the biggest sporting event in the country in 2012, says it is owed €170,000 and is unable to meet its liabilities.
This has now made the return of the event extremely unlikely as some 60 suppliers remain unpaid for services provided to Let’s Do It Global.
The group say that they have postponed the decision on whether or not to apply to be a host port in the next race in 2014.
Limerick-based Masterchefs Hospitality won the contact to provide on-site catering for the event at Galway Docks. However, the Limerick Post has learned that company is not owed any outstanding monies from LDIG as confirmed by Pat O’Sullivan, Managing Director for Masterchefs Hospitality.
In the 2008/09 race, Limerick’s Ger O’Rourke was one of the participants in what has been called the “Everest of sailing”.
Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar said his department could not allocate any more money to the event or the group as Fáilte Ireland was a sponsor and not an underwriter of the event. With insufficient funds and the expiry of the application deadline for the port to host a stopover in next year’s race, it is likely that it will be some years before the event returns to Ireland.
