??? QINGDAO has signed a contract with the Clipper Fund on Dec. 13 to host the world’s largest amateur yacht race. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will have its Qingdao legs in 2013 and 2015. ??? The Clipper race first stopped in China in 2006. Qingdao was the only port to hold the international regatta. After that, Qingdao became its only Asian leg in 2007, 2009 and 2011. ??? The event will become the city’s key cultural and sports event. A campaign which invites Clipper sailors to stay with Qingdao families was launched in November and more than 30 families have applied. ??? More than 20 sailors have participated in the Clipper with the Qingdao yacht over recent years. Next year, a Qingdao sailor, Qu Zhiguo, will join in the team to sail from Australia to Qingdao via Singapore. ??? “I’m so honored to have become one of the crew of the Qingdao yacht. It is a great honor,” he said. ??? “The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a high-end international competition and an important sailing cultural factor, attracting much interest. It can also promote the city’s international exchange with other countries and regions,” said Lin Zhiwei, chairman of the city’s sports federation.(Wang Yuanyuan, Liu Changzhou) | 