The Boat Race Company Limited (BRCL) announces Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange and custodian, as the Principal Partner of the 2021 Boat Race.
The 166th Men’s and 75th’ Women’s races will take place on the River Great Ouse at Ely on 4th April 2021 as “The Gemini Boat Race”, a safe and closed event covered live by the BBC.
Gemini provides individuals and institutions with a simple and secure way to buy, sell, store, and earn on crypto. The company launched in the UK in 2020, following the Financial Conduct Authority granting it an Electronic Money Institution licence. Gemini was founded in 2014 by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, who competed in the 2010 Blue Boat for Oxford and at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Finals.
The annual Oxford-Cambridge University Boat Race, first raced in 1829, is one of the world’s oldest and most famous amateur sporting events. Due to the ongoing restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the first year since the 1944 wartime Race that the event has moved outside London to Ely.
The partnership will further develop the sport by engaging young people with limited access to rowing through The Gemini Boat Race Bursary Scheme. The £75,000 Bursary will provide rowing instruction and education to students through the Fulham Reach Boat Club, a registered charity that aims to remove the financial barriers that often prevent them from taking part.
“We are delighted to welcome Gemini as the Principal Partner of the Boat Race. The fact that a global and innovative FinTech company is joining as a Boat Race partner at this time demonstrates a high level of trust and confidence in the careful planning and work that BRCL and local stakeholders have put in over the past few months to stage an event that is fully compliant with COVID safety regulations and therefore closed to the public.” said Robert Gillespie, Boat Race Company Chairman.
Cameron Winklevoss, President at Gemini said, “Our experience in rowing taught us that whether you are building yourself as an athlete or building a startup, the power of big dreams together with conviction and perseverance cannot be underestimated. We are excited to support this historic event to go ahead safely and widen access to the sport through The Gemini Boat Race Bursary Scheme. Our hope for the Bursary Scheme is to enable more young people to explore the skills that rowing develops in and outside of the boat, including focus, confidence and teamwork.”
Gemini’s Head of UK, Blair Halliday, said, “As we continue to expand our presence in the UK, we’re thrilled to bring Gemini’s retail and institutional cryptocurrency services to new audiences as the Principal Partner of The Boat Race.”
BRCL continues to work with East Cambridgeshire District Council and other local agencies to deliver the event within government guidelines. The Boat Race student athletes have been respecting all lockdown regulations. The Gemini Boat Race and the BBC coverage will leverage the power of technology to enable fans to enjoy the event at home and comply with all restrictions.
BRCL is grateful for the support of existing partners the BBC, Chapel Down, Player Layer and Wainwright Golden Beer in working to deliver The Gemini Boat Race in 2021.