“Barcelona is the perfect decision for the Copa América”
Grant Dalton (Auckland, 1957) exudes enthusiasm, motivation and confidence that the 37th America’s Cupwhich will be in 2024 in Barcelona, it may be the best in history. The CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand and of the competition visited the AS newsroom in Madrid and verified that the commitment to carry out the fight for the Hundred Guineas Jug, the oldest title in the world, in Barcelona is a winner. Dalton, who started sailing when he was eight years old and is devoted to motorcycling, is one of the most recognized figures in the nautical world for his seven laps around the world and his love affair with the Copa América. He took command of Team New Zealand in 2003 and, after the blow suffered by the loss against Oracle Team USA in 2013, he can boast of having restored the splendor to the New Zealand team. He won the title in 2017 and 2021 and wants to succeed, again with Emirates Team New Zealand, in Barcelona.
Was it difficult not to host the 37th America’s Cup in New Zealand?
The weather in Auckland with COVID-19 has taken its toll on the country, but the main point was that in order to grow the sport and make sailing and the America’s Cup more widely known, it had to be brought to a better time zone. In addition, the market at the sponsorship level is in Europe, as the base of the population. What is not so well known is that the great base of the Copa América is in Italy, not in New Zealand. In the last edition of the America’s Cup (it was held in Auckland, New Zealand) we had a cumulative audience of 941 million viewers and if we had kept it there, in the wrong part of the world and at the wrong time, we would not have been able to make it grow. Therefore, I am sure that in Barcelona, in Europe, we are going to grow.
What does Barcelona have that has you so dazzled?
There are many things, but the simplest is Barcelona itself. There was a great affinity between us, like the Copa América, with the city of Barcelona for the blue economy, green hydrogen, the competition that is going to be held for young people and the women’s competition, eSports… that can compete in other regattas . If we had a crystal ball that would tell us the perfect decision, this would be Barcelona. When I arrived it was easy.
He looks tremendously excited. Can it be the best Cup in history?
It will be time who judges us, but it must be better than the previous edition. We have to make it different. Our legacy will not be judged only by television or economic figures, but by what we are able to leave behind in Spain. I remember the Barcelona 92 Olympic Games and we have to motivate the population in the same way.
Do you think there is still something left of the 92 Games in Barcelona?
Yes, there are infrastructures and an Olympic feeling that is still in the air. It is like a fire that is gone, but of which there are still embers. And we want to fan them so that the flame is back. You feel this when you are in Barcelona.
Do you think you are still ‘hated’ in New Zealand for winning the America’s Cup?
Winning or losing can make you a villain or a hero in New Zealand (he jokes). ‘Hated’ may be too strong, but we’ll leave it at that I’m not very popular. Although when you walk around Barcelona in 2024 you will hear a lot of New Zealand accent, they are sure to come for miles. The fan base is very large.
Sailing is massive in New Zealand…
New Zealand’s biggest sport is rugby and then there’s sailing. Of course, when we won the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda (Emirates Team New Zealand regained the title 14 years later) the largest television audience was used. 89% of the population over five years old saw that final. The streets were deserted.
What will happen if he does not win the Copa América again?
We live to win. Although I’m sure if we lose, people will say ‘I should have held it in New Zealand’. So you have to win.
Is Emirates Team New Zealand favourites?
I don’t like to think of it like that. The Copa América is a race of technology and innovation. For example, in Formula 1 they could have expected Mercedes to win, or at least to be favourite, but in terms of innovation and technology they were wrong. You can’t make a slow car a fast one. Here it is the same. The decisions we make now in terms of design will be key.
You draw many parallels with Formula 1 and Alinghi works with Red Bull and Ineos Britannia with Mercedes. Does this make them more dangerous?
Absolutely. Alinghi works with Red Bull technologies and Ineos is involved in the Formula 1 team. It will be tough because Formula 1 and the America’s Cup are getting closer. Many of his abilities we need. An example is that we have 45 engineers in the team and only one is a ship designer. The rest are aerodynamic and hydraulic engineers…
The last time the Copa América was held in Spain was in Valencia (2007 and 2011) and there was controversy in economic terms. Did an image level affect them?
Outside of Spain it did no harm. Sportingly, which is what I can talk about, he was very satisfactory. It was an excellent race.
For the first time in history there will be a women’s and youth Copa América. Is it an important step for equality?
It’s very important. The issue of quota is highly controversial. Imposing a gender quota on sailing is bad, it has been done wrong. You can win a gold medal at the Olympic Games, but that doesn’t even remotely guarantee you’ll make it to the Copa América. Now, with the women’s Copa América, a step is being taken to see more women sailing. Even in the youth Copa América, women will be seen because youth does not mean that there are only male sailors. We will see mixed teams.
Precisely in this women’s and youth Copa América it is expected that there will be a Spanish team…
Yes, hopefully it’s possible. We do the most for you.
Barcelona beat other cities like Malaga and Jeddah. Will the Copa América ever be seen in the Middle East?
Speaking of Jeddah…he spent quite a bit of time there trying to understand the place because until you go and understand a culture you are not qualified to criticise. And I found the people to be awesome. In the future, I do see it as a fantastic venue.
In 2024 will be the Olympic Games in Paris. Do you think they will affect them?
We would have preferred not to coincide with the Olympic year, but there is always something. If it’s not a soccer World Cup, it’s a rugby World Cup… but since we have to wait until it’s over to do any sporting event, we have a pretty clear path afterwards.
And at the level of navigators?
The sailors have to make a choice, it cannot be both: Games or Copa América.
Emirates Team New Zealand features Peter Burling. Have you decided yet?
He will be one hundred percent focused on the Copa América. In addition, he no longer wanted to do other Games, he already has four silver and one gold.
For the 37th edition, it already has, in addition, Emirates Team New Zealand and Ineos Britannia, with Alinghi, American Magic and Luna Rossa. Will there be a sixth team?
If there is a sixth team it will be French. But it is not me who has to confirm whether they will be or not, it is your responsibility.
Watching the Copa América in Barcelona will be free… Is sailing democratizing?
There is a stigma in the America’s Cup of elitism. But five minutes go by in New Zealand and you don’t think that way. Two out of three people have access to a boat and you cannot go more than 35 kilometers from the water in our country. It is a sport of the people. And part of our mission is to get that message across here.”