Ras al Khaimah was yesterday described as too dangerous a venue to stage next year's America's Cup yacht racing event in view of its proximity to Iran.
The surprising attack on the sleepy emirate's safety was made by Larry Ellison, founder and chief executive of the Oracle Corp and owner of the BMW Oracle team who are due to challenge the Cup holders Alinghi, of Switzerland, off the UAE coast in February.
"I'm a little bit concerned because it's less than 100 miles from Iran, so we're all concerned about the safety of our crew and our shore crew and everyone setting up there," said Ellison, who is due to sail in the three-race series. The American-based Ellison has never visited the UAE.
"People say, 'Oh my God, the Emirates, that's where Roger Federer trains for tennis and that's where Formula One races'. Not this part of the Emirates," he said.
"There's an oil depot, we're concerned about electricity, we're concerned about a lot of things. We're concerned about the proximity to Iran.
"I know a lot of people in the UAE. We like them a lot. Oracle does a lot of business with the UAE. I've nothing bad to say about the UAE at all, but we are concerned about the suitability of this particular venue for a race like this."
Ellison's remarks brought an immediate rebuttal from the rival Alinghi team.
"It is like saying England is dangerous because the IRA is close by in Ireland," said spokesman Paco Latorre.
"Every place in the world has security issues. Iran is 100 miles from RAK but do you think Iran is going to launch an attack on the UAE just because we have the America's Cup there? The UAE is one of the safest places on earth."
Yesterday's outburst by Ellison follows the threat of legal action from the challenging consortium to move the venue to Valencia, host city for the races in 2007.
BMW Oracle chief executive Sir Russell Coutts has said privately that he just wants to get on with the racing and is unlikely to contest Alinghi's choice of venue.
wjohnson@thenational.ae
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
