Following the success of Nokia Oops Cup in 2003, Nokia today announced their continued support, as Title Partner, for the Nokia Oops Cup 2004 and 2005.

The great interest generated by the yacht races in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo is the key factor in Nokia’s continued backing of the event. In 2004 the organizer Atlant Ocean Racing will enhance the race with races in Helsinki and another country in the Baltic Sea.

Johan Eidhagen, Marketing Director for Nokia Mobile Phones Scandinavia is very pleased with the outcome of their strategic commitment for trimaran sailing to date:

– Nokia has been active in sailing for many years and the Nokia Oops Cup has further raised the return of exposure, among other values. The Formula 60-trimarans in the Nokia Oops Cup are extreme speed machines where innovation and technology plays an important role in the development. At the same time the demands on the crew are very high. This corresponds well with Nokia’s philosophy.

– The Nokia Oops Cup has made it possible for us to reach very important target groups. It gives us a unique opportunity to communicate with our customers while at the same time the races create a good platform for relational activities with our business partners, says Johan Eidhagen.

– It’s with great satisfaction that we renew our partnership with Nokia. For everyone involved it’s a confirmation of a well-accomplished task. For the future, the support of Nokia means that we at Atlant have the platform required to enhance the Nokia Oops Cup as a world-class sports event and as a powerful communication tool for companies involved. The event share several common values with Nokia, which is fundamental for creating a successful sports promotion project says Richard Brisius from Atlant Ocean Racing, organizers of the race.

-Planning and preparation for the Nokia Oops Cup 2004 is going well. Already quite a few professional teams are in discussions with us regarding participation. Up until this year it has been very difficult to rent or buy one of the rare Formula 60 trimarans, but for next year it looks like more boats will be available which is a positive sign, predicts Richard Brisius.

This summer the Nokia Oops Cup generated a lot of interest which is reflected in the level of media coverage, where each of the teams Nokia Sailing Team, HiQ Sailing Team and GORE-TEX, on average, received a media value of 4 times their invested capital*.

Oops Cup was sailed for the first time in 2001. In the summer of 2004 Nokia Oops Cup will start mid May and finish at the beginning of July with the addition of races in Helsinki and probably a city in Germany or Poland. This combined with the additional new racing formats, one double-handed race between two Nordic capitals and a speed race format where the trimarans will sail on time on a short city course, will ensure that the next Nokia Oops Cup is the biggest and best yet.

* Atlant Ocean Racing conducted the media evaluation under the guidance of an independent consultant with experience of global evaluations of the world’s biggest sporting events.

For more information contact Press Officer Mats Olsson at mats.olsson@atlant.org or +46-70-633 61 30.

For more information about Nokia contact Eric Anderbjörk at Nokia eric.anderbjork@nokia.com or +46- 709-938308.

For more information about Atlant Ocean Racing contact Richard Brisius at Atlant Ocean Racing. richard@atlant.org, or +46-73-347 2450.