Nigeria to host eco-friendly boat racing competition

The world’s first all-electric international powerboat racing competition will make its African debut in Lagos, Nigeria, on October 4th, says the BBC. The goal is to bring a sustainability and equality-driven event to the continent.

Powerboating is a fast-growing sport that originated in the early 1900s. The futuristic-looking boats compete against each other to win world championships, such as the Powerboat Formula 1. Similar to the more popular Formula 1 car races, the vehicles are the main attraction: the fastest ones can exceed 160 miles per hour. While it is not currently an Olympic Sport, powerboating made a single appearance in the Games of 1908, back when the vehicles did not exceed 19 miles per hour.

The E1 Series, launched in February 2024, prides itself on being the first powerboating competition to host solely electric vehicles. Due to its rising popularity and sustainability-focused mission, the event has attracted investment from big names in sport and beyond. American footballer Tom Brady and basketballer LeBron James each have their own teams, along with tennis legend Rafael Nadal and footballer Didier Drogba. Flying in from Hollywood are actor Will Smith, DJ Steve Aoki and singer Marc Anthony, who have also joined the team of investors.

The goal of the event is to pioneer a “sustainable future in marine sports”. However, their sustainability mission goes beyond the choice of vehicles, with their target to boost marine biodiversity being 40%, with a focus on revitalising and protecting coastal ecosystems in all cities that host the competition.

In addition to its sustainability goals, the E1 Series also aims to promote gender equality. Every team of the competition consists of one female and one male pilot, who share a boat and alternate between races. Gabrielle Lemaire, Didier Drogba’s partner and E1 co-investor, stated that it is more than just a sport, but a strong symbol “to show that men and women can do sports”.

The electric-boat competition, which has visited cities such as Venice, Monaco and Jeddah, is set to make its first appearance in the African continent on October 4th. The Nigerian city of Lagos will host nine teams, each owned by a celebrity investor.

BBC Sport