The Ocean Race partners with Red Sea Global to Raise Awareness on Ocean Health
December 2, 2022
Following its recent announcement of an extensive new relationship with its worldwide broadcast partner Warner Bros. Discovery, global sailing competition, The Ocean Race (TOR), has announced a new partnership with Red Sea Global (RSG). The collaboration with the Saudi Arabia-based regenerative tourism developer will support awareness of global conservation efforts and look to create a long-term sailing legacy in the Red Sea. Warner Bros. Discovery will amplify the partnership with a series of short features.
Every year, around eight million metric tons of plastic waste end up in the ocean with an estimated 75 to 199 million tonnes currently there. Additionally, due to the climate crisis, ocean temperatures are rising, endangering marine life, bleaching corals and weakening entire ecosystems. The Red Sea has seen a sharp warming in its waters and a noticeably faster sea-level increase rate of 6.40 mm per year.
RSG joins TOR as a "Regenerative Project Partner" for its next two races and will help drive awareness of the importance of ocean health to an international audience. RSG’s The Red Sea project and TOR will also collaborate on holding events and educational initiatives, supported by content developed with Warner Bros. Discovery. The media and entertainment company will produce a series of short features on the race itself, the ocean and in particular the Red Sea, with a concentration on TOR’s efforts to promote ocean health and conservation. The content will air around its live broadcast of The Ocean Race during 2023.
"The sea has always been an important part of Saudi Arabia’s history and heritage – dating back to the ancient spice trade routes, and creating thriving communities along its coasts,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global. “We hope to support the efforts of The Ocean Race to raise awareness of the challenges facing our oceans globally today and protect the outstanding beauty of the marine ecosystems in areas such as the Red Sea.”
RSG intends to use this partnership to help inspire the next generation of Saudi sailors and promote a new sport in the Kingdom that has “enjoyed a crucial and historic relationship with the sea for over 4,000 years."
Since 1973, TOR has kept the conservation of nature at the heart of “sailing’s greatest round-the-world challenge”. The global platform wants to slash emissions by up to 75% and hold one of the world’s first climate positive sport events. Over the years, it has brought together like-minded organizations from across the globe with a shared vision of protecting and enhancing our oceans while raising awareness of the environmental challenges facing the world’s marine environment.