Rafael Nadal says that he is not a man of excesses or shortcomings, neither too high when he wins nor too low when he loses, and that he is always most comfortable at sea level, a way of escape and relaxation for him. The tennis player from Manacor, who is known to have been born on an island and who owns an imposing catamaran moored in his home town of Porto Cristo, is passionate about sailing and spends hours on the water, relaxing, having fun or fishing, and from now on an also at the start as he becomes the new owner of a team in the UIM E1 World Championship, the world’s first all-electric boat championship.
Nadal, 36 years old and currently present in Melbourne to take part in the Australian Open that starts next Monday, has decided to launch this environmental project, which aims to “accelerate the transition to clean mobility and protect marine ecosystems at scale to restore”. , and which is led by renowned environmentalist Carlos Duarte. In particular, they convey from the organization of the event: “It is designed to protect the ecosystems on the coasts of the cities participating in the championship and to have a positive impact on the local communities.”
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The Spanish tennis player, who is at the top of his sport with 22 majors, will register his team for the championship’s inaugural season, which is due to start at the end of the year, and will announce new participants and venues in the coming months. The Mallorquin’s new team will compete against others such as the Venice Racing Team, and in this way the king of the country joins the growing list of sports personalities to lead an E1 team, such as the motorist Sergio Checo Pérez, Formula 1 -Driver 1 and that he will be managing a representation associated with his native Mexico.
“I am very excited to be part of a project like E1 that values sustainability and will have a positive impact on society as a whole, especially in coastal communities. I’m also drawn to the fact that E1 has the mission and commitment to conserve marine ecosystems,” Nadal appreciates. “As a professional athlete, I know about the positive effect that small improvements have on improving performance. To see E1 applying the same competitive spirit and approach to optimizing the performance and efficiency of sustainable marine mobility is good news for our oceans,” adds the Spaniard.
The E1 electric racing boat with a decoration inspired by the colors of Rafa Nadal’s racket. /E1
As announced by the organization of the UIM E1 World Championship, Mallorcan Professor Carlos Duarte will be in charge of the Blue Action program in his capacity as E1’s Chief Scientist. Duarte is a world-leading marine ecologist who will play a key role in developing E1’s global sustainability strategy, as well as supporting Nadal’s Academy’s sustainability initiatives and increasing its commitment to sustainable sport.
“I’m delighted to have a tennis legend like Rafa Nadal join E1 as a team owner. He embodies top sport and resilience. As a Mallorcan citizen, I know that Rafa also shares my passion and commitment to marine conservation and I look forward to his support on this important journey towards large-scale marine habitat restoration,” says Duarte.
Nadal, during a training session in Melbourne recently WILLIAM WEST (AFP)
The partnership between Nadal and E1 is set to extend beyond racing and include the creation of an international event focused on sport and sustainability. This event will bring together the world’s leading sustainability experts at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca with the aim of exploring the next level of sustainability thinking and highlighting the positive role sport can play in furthering development goals. of the United Nations.
“Not only is he one of the greatest tennis players of all time, but he is also a sporting icon who has transcended his sport. When I spoke to Nadal, I immediately understood how important he is to sustainability and his passion for the oceans,” said Alejandro Agag, President and Co-Founder of E1, in the organization’s statement. “His presence shows the importance of our mission. We want to ensure that people can enjoy our oceans and beautiful shorelines for many years to come,” concludes Rodi Basso, Co-Founder and CEO.
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