Oman to host America’s Cup sailing

America's Cup racing will head to the Middle East for the first time with the first round of 2016 Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series to be sailed offshore from the Omani capital of Muscat on 27th and 28th February.

The Oman regatta first round event will be a point-scoring event for the 2017 America’s Cup.

Oman is a surprising choice considering that Larry Ellison , the American billionaire holder of the America’s Cup, opposed the region as the venue for the 2010 America's Cup, citing in part safety concerns because of its proximity to Iran.

Teams from the United States, France and England are part of the America's Cup World Series circuit, a series of regattas leading up to the 2017 America's Cup in Bermuda.

Welcoming the event, Oman’s Director General of Tourism Promotion Salim Al Mamari stated “we are delighted to announce that we will be hosting the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Oman in Muscat for the first time and we are very proud and excited to welcome the America’s Cup community and its massive following to the Sultanate.”

Commenting on security, America's Cup official Harvey Schiller stated that security "is and always will be a concern for all major events and is not limited to sport.

“Certainly all are giving greater concern based on recent events."

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