The Volvo Ocean Race, started in 1973, is the world's longest and most competitive professional sporting event. Considered by many as the pinnacle of offshore ocean racing, the event gathers the best professional sailors for a nine month race around the world, providing a global impact in real life and online.

This year the race has set stopovers in Guangzhou and Hong Kong in China, and more people are familiar with this sporting event. But what's the link between the race and sustainable development? 

Well, did you know that 8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year? That's a whole garbage truck per minute – and 80 percent of that comes from land-based sources. It means that, if no action is taken, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.

There is a natural and logical fit between the Volvo Ocean Race and the relatively new but critical environmental challenge of ocean health and plastic pollution.

Offshore sailing not only inspires great passion among millions of fans and followers, but also offers a solid framework to create positive change. That's why this year, a team took "Turn the Tide on Plastic" as the slogan, promoting a war against plastic pollution.

To get more details, click the video.

Photo: screenshot of the video

(Compiled by Han Xiaomeng)