Vendée Globe yachtswoman Sam Davies and Windsurfing Olympic Medallist Bryony Shaw joined triple round the world yachtsman Conrad Humphreys at Plymouth’s (UK) historical Mayflower Steps as Paul Deighton, Chief Executive of The London 2012 Olympic Organising Committee fired the starting canon for the launch of the BLUE MILE – Race for the Environment.

Speaking from the launch Paul Deighton said: “This is absolutely brilliant what you are doing – there is no better example of a project than the Blue Mile, what the athletes are doing and how this filters through to how people can get involved”. “Sometimes I think of the Olympic games is happening in the SW with a peripheral activity in London!”

Commenting on the launch event, Sam Davies said: “I was here in Plymouth last year for the Artemis Transat – it’s an ideal location to host an event like this and I’m pleased to be involved with the BLUE Mile.”

Bryony Shaw also commented: “The BLUE Mile is one of our most important races to date – the race to protect our oceans and natural environment and I urge as many people as possible to join in to the challenge of completing a mile – either on the water, in it or alongside it.”

Conrad Humphreys, Triple Round the World Sailor: “Today’s launch was stunning. It had all the ingredients with passionate athletes and VIP’s, children having fun on the water and a fantastic backdrop for host city Plymouth. I am very excited that the Blue Mile has been launched and am really looking forward to seeing as many people as possible taking part in the Blue Mile and enjoying our natural environment.”

To get involved with The Blue Mile visit the official website at: www.thebluemile.org

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Notes to editor:

About The Blue Mile

The BLUE MILE – Race for the Environment is the UK’s newest mass-participation event designed to engage people actively with our BLUE Environment. It will be open to everyone to take part and complete a mile in, on or next to a water environment. The inaugural event will take place in Plymouth in the summer 2010 with additional waterfront cities being invited to take part in future events. The BLUE Mile – Race for the Environment aims to increase participation in our natural environment and provide a learning experience to help encourage more people to take steps to care for the health of our planet.