Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, Georgy Poltavchenko, Governor of Saint Petersburg and Vladimir Lyubomirov, President of the regional sport public organization Saint Petersburg Yacht Club signed in Saint Petersburg a Cooperation Agreement.

Pursuant to the document, the parties will promote children's and youth, professional and amateur sailing in Saint Petersburg, take part in organizing and holding sailing competitions, including those on the international level, as well as build the relevant urban infrastructure.

Sailing Academy (an independent non-profit supplementary education organization founded by Saint Petersburg Yacht Club) will develop and in due order approve a supplementary education program for teaching the basics of sailing, as well as invite qualified instructors to be employed in Saint Petersburg schools as part of the program.

Supported by Gazprom and the city's Government, Saint Petersburg Yacht Club will train sportsmen for joining the teams that would take part in the Olympic Games and other international sailing competitions and would represent the Russian Federation there. The Club will also create and train a professional sailing team to take part in the 2017 America's Cup international regatta.

In addition, the parties will organize and hold several Russian and international sailing competitions in Saint Petersburg, particularly the 'Optimists of the Northern Capital. Gazprom Cup' annual national children's regatta, the 'Nord Stream Race' annual international regatta of cruiser yachts, as well as sporting events dedicated to the 300th anniversary of Nevsky Flot – the first yacht club in the world.

The Agreement will be effective throughout 2017. A joint working group will be created to implement the Agreement.

Background

The regional sport public organization Saint Petersburg Yacht Club was established in 2010. The club pursues the goal of popularizing sailing and yachting.

From 2012 Gazprom sponsored Saint Petersburg Yacht Club in holding the 'Optimists of the Northern Capital. Gazprom Cup' children's regatta. This year it will be held for the second time. There are four event series in the regatta. This year the final event is scheduled for August.

The 'Nord Stream Race' annual international regatta was first held in 2012. Gazprom acts as the main sponsor of the competition. The length of the route is about 750 nautical miles (approximately 1,400 kilometers) and it runs along the Nord Stream gas pipeline route crossing the waters of Russia, Finland, Sweden and Germany. This year the regatta is scheduled for September.

The Nevsky Flot yacht club was set up in Saint Petersburg in 1718.