challenger series will start -- sorry, i said the 5th, it's the 4th. after two weeks of racing the challenger will line up against the home team on september 9. the american team will be racing to keep the america's cup in america. and all this racing will take place right off the city front. the start line will be adjacent to marina green where the golden gate bridge at a backdrop. from the start, it will take the boats probably less than a minute to scream towards the first turn which would be only about 150 yards off the shoreline, so close to the water's edge in fact that you'll be able to hear the sound of the winches and the voices of the crew. i'm talking about polite voices. the regatta director has just issued a directive about the

salty language needing to be a little sweeter. then boats will rip up and down the bay. on that first leg, they'll approach speeds close to 50 miles per hour, but they'll rip up and down the bay over a three-lap course and then the finish line will be right off here at piers 27 and 29. so the america's cup competition will be 162 years old, this fantastic trophy next year, yet it will have seen nothing like what's about to happen in san francisco. this will be the fastest, most fan friendly cup there has ever been. you'll have the drama and excitement of the athletes racing extreme machines on the best natural racing arena in the world and i agree, tom, better than new zealand in terms of a racing arena.

may i remind you, the last america's cup was the last time it was in the u.s. was in san diego in 1995. fans had to head out to the pacific ocean for more than 1 1/2 hours to see the racing. they had to spend 1 1/2 hours to come back afterwards. for this america's cup in the same three years, we could have had, in fact, more than three races completed. and those races will be shown around the world live on tv and here in the u.s. on nbc. it will be a very different style of america's cup, more exciting, more engaging, more accessible. it will be the best sailors racing the fastest boats on the best stage. and you don't have to own a boat or even have access to a boat or even in fact know anything about boating to be part of this event. you simply head down to the

shore to watch the action on the water or watch it on one of the big screens that will be here along the waterfront and for the mobile device generation, i have particularly avoided the facebook generation. for the mobile device generation, your spectator experience will be enhanced by apps especially designed to get you inside the races and experience what it's like to be onboard these boats. it will be the most fan friendly america's cup in history. there will be a chance to see some of this, this summer. the america's cup teams will come here and be racing the a.c. 45 class and some of you may have already seen us training in these boats on the bay. these boats are currently racing in the america's cup world series. they are the same boats that will be racing in venice in a few weeks' time and then in

newport toward the end of june. they are the boats coming here later this year to san francisco. but for the america's cup finals and the lewis vuitton trials, teams will race the a.c. 72. now we have half of an a.c. 45 boat at the back of this place here today. we have some of the wing parts of an a.c. 45 boat here today. imagine a boat nearly twice as long as an a.c. 45 with something like four times the pair and imagine the wing style being twice as tall as the a.c. 45, something as tall as a 1-story building. that's what's coming town. that's what is under construction in our team base at pier 80. that's what our team will begin training in later this year, perhaps as early as the end of july, beginning of august here on the bay.

so these boats are cool, they're meant to be cool and are cool. the america's cup has been transformed. it has retained the tradition, but it's blown away the stuffyness that is all about now, it's all about inclusion. it's for the city front crowd just as much as it is for the other crowd. two years and two months ago, our team won the america's cup and brought it to san francisco and i'm delighted to be here with the mayor signing of the resolution is a major milestone. it marks months of tremendous hard work, good will, cooperation and, yes, some heartache along the way to allow the america's cup to proceed. the america's cup is a tremendous opportunity for the city and for the bay area and i might add for the sport of sailing to showcase our sport

in a new and exciting way. so thank you, mr. mayor, and all others. [applause] and all others who have helped make this a reality. let's capture the memories of every single person who papers and -- parities updates and sees the summer of raising on the bay. let's encourage them to remember that this is the best america's cup ever. let's encourage them to remember this as the san francisco america's cup. thank you very much. thank you. [applause] >> the san francisco cup, i like it. i was just thinking back about the comment i made about your success in california over the years.

in 1995 in san diego when the cup left, i think you won that one, too, didn't you? one of them, yes, a good success. thanks, russell, terrific stuff. mr. mayor, jennifer, now we have got a special treat for all of you. we got a special treat and i would like to invite up here a colleague from oracle racing, the team coordinator who is going to show you the game called america's cup speed trial on ipads live and in color on the tv screens. please welcome ian burns. [applause] >> hi, how are you? >> great, thanks. >> ian is from sydney, australia, his nickname is fresh. half of the people don't know his real name is ian. he is known more commonly as fresh and he and a group of people from around the world, an international group at russell's behest have developed an ipad game for what you call it, the mobile crowd.

the mobile device generation. tim jeffrey, that's the mobile, mobile device generation, the m.d.g. do you have a mobile device, charlotte? we're going to get you one. look how cool this is. fresh, show us how this works. we're on this screen, i think. >> when we developed the game, we wanted a game that anyone could play from 6 to 96 and anyone of sailing experience or no sailing experience so the game can be played by anyone, but we'll demonstrate it a little bit later on. you choose your team you want to represent. of course, we'll choose oracle. >> this is a new style of racing. in fact, russell, we have incorporated this into the america's cup world series. it's called the speed trial. it's over a 500-meter course. the idea is to sail the boat down the drag strip as fast as

possible among all of the teams. this is done in naples. here is fresh demonstrating trying to go down the course. >> down the course as fast as i can. i'm steering by actually rocking the ipad from side to side and if you aren't careful, you can actually capsize the boat just like real life. i'm trying to get the fastest time that i can and around 35 seconds is not too bad. i'm not looking too good at the momen starts to heel over, you do what? >> you turn into the wind like this, you can capsize and if you turn away from the wind, you can avoid a capsize. >> oh, you capsized! is that artemis raising that capsizes in that video? >> actually, yes. >> sorry, me lippeda, we had to mention

that is pretty good. do you want to have another go? ok, thank you very much. ladies and gentlemen, that concludes our presentation. think you, mr. mayor, russell, jennifer.

>> i want to thank everyone for coming. i am the general manager of the recreation department. it is a pleasure to serve as the emcee today and i want to recognize our commission president. joining us all with our other dignitaries. there are a lot of special people gathered around. for those of you who do not know, a little bit of background about this beautiful garden before i turn it over to our mayor. the garden is the oldest japanese american garden in the

united states. it is a historical japanese- style garden, originally billed as a village for the 1894 midwinter international exposition. after the exposition, a japanese-american partner along with john mclaren converted the exhibition into a permanent park. he over saw the building as the teagarden and was the official caretaker from -- until 1925. he requested the people of japan 1000 flooring cherry trees to be imported and other plants and birds and goldfish. his family lived in the garden until 1942. when under executive order 906, he was forced to relocate to an

internment camp with thousands of other japanese american families. this barden was renamed the oriental tea garden and it fell into a state of disrepair. in the 1950's, we had moved forward and the rec and park renamed it the japanese tea garden. the first concessionaire was jack -- who many here had the incredible opportunity to honor. and we're very incredibly pleased to be planning -- planting a cherry tree from the consul general. the cherry blossom tree planting has become a tradition that allows us to reflect on the legacy of exchanges and importance of relations between the united states and japan.

this is where families, a century old pract oice of picnicking underneath a tree. we hope many families for more generations will have the opportunity here in this beautiful garden. my great pleasure to turner with a microphone to our 43rd mayor of san francisco, celebrating diversity and cultural harmony and he has been focused on the economic revitalization of our community. jobs, jobs, jobs. this mayor does not brag about it but he is about parks, parks, parks. it gives me great pleasure to introduce mayor ed lee. [applause] >> thank you. if i may think you and your leadership and the commission. this is a very special place.

history but it is cultural and one of the most beautiful places you can ever be proud to visit and also be the honor of. i am proud at our rec and park staff and the public-prey relationships because that is the only way to keep these beautiful institutions going. we have to have that imagination to get people involved to fund and support it. you have some of the most beautiful things you can see and touch and feel. i am happy to be here and i also want to celebrate because this is a moment, the first time we have been together here as well. at the garden. -- t garden -- tea garden. i want to welcome you here as well. and congratulate all of us for

working so closely together and certainly our relationships are valuable. this is one of those reasons why not too many other consular general offices -- it is country to country and people to people. the council general and staff has offered yet another the supporting symbol of the relationship, the planting of cherry blossom trees throughout our city. we had awe have been celebratine cherry blossom festival. they are very peaceful, a

relationship that we keep in mind always and we have done so for over 100 years. since the cherry blossoms are arrived as a gift to washington d.c. while we have gone for many years of that relationship, it is a requirement to know the san francisco enjoys 55 years of that relationship, many members of the district-city community here today to enjoy that. a member of the chamber of commerce is here to enjoy that as well. we have this relationship with you because we know san francisco's international status does not stop simply at having the offices here. we are out there working on everything from cultural exchanges, student exchanges, constant communication.

more and more, examining opportunities to keep livelihood. both of our countries the more trade and communication to face the challenges that are facing us. it is my great pleasure to be here with you, counsel general, in the very beautiful garden we have here. also to know that it is in good hands with rec and park. at the same time, continue to bless it with our proclamation, our celebration of the u.s.- japan centennial on this wonderful occasion. if i may, i present to you, counsel general, are proclamation at the u.s.-japan cherry blossom centennial here

in san francisco. [applause] >> thank you, mr. mayor. we have a few more introductions to mate. our counsel general has had an experienced international career. i believe bangkok and london and seoul. no doubt san francisco is your favorite assignment. [laughter] it is not often the departments get to work so closely with the council general's office. they have done a great job planning this event with you and your staff. they have had a lot of fun doing it. there is a great report between our offices and our staff. it has been delightful. >> thank you. i did not know that you were such a good mp. i am pleased to be here.

at the tea garden. i want to thank mayor lee. as always, for your support. also, creating a park. we are here for the planting. cherry trees are near and dear to the hearts of japanese people.

japanese people curate cherry blossoms each year. there are festivals to stick together with family and friends. i am sure most of you have enjoyed the cherry blossom -- the cherry blossom festival the past weekends. we are planting one treat today here and two more. these trees symbolize, are part avail long legacy. also obama these trees -- also, these trees, since 1912, we have

donated them. planting these trees all over the united states. thank you again for coming. i hope this tree, the cherry tree, will further blossom in the years to come. 6 trees we have planted in the square. and nine trees in golden gate park. still more in san francisco. more than 150 years of history of cultural exchange. this is really a great place.

i cannot think of a more fitting location to plant a tree. thank you for coming and i hope you will enjoy it. [applause] >> one other short, special ceremony that i want to acknowledge. we're joined by our fire chief. we are joined by our director of public works. we are joined by our director of the department of the environment. human rights commissioners -- we are joined by the state department. i do nothing we have ever met. we do -- i do not think we have ever met. our human rights commissioner is here. and our school board is here.

john from our city administrator's office. also, john from the park's alliance, who has been a great story of this site. -- steward of this site. we have a number of staff. the chief gardners of this area have played a significant role. and the supervisor is here. why don't you come up here and make a brief presentation? >> i do not want to take any more time, but in recognition of this dedication and your work, we will keep this mutual garden.

i would like to present this commendation to the three of you. this is written in japanese. the council general's office extends its deepest respect for your achievements and contributing to mutual understanding. >> thank you. >> that is not what it says here. [laughter] >> thank you very much. [applause] this is for you. thank you. [applause] >> if you are with me, i wanted to ask for the golden gate park

crew is very tight. we have gardners assigned to the concourse area. in the last couple of months, we lost one of our beloved gardner's who loved this place, incredibly special. i would ask that we take a brief moment of silence for carter. thank you. ok. let's plant the tree, shall we? i will do the heavy lifting. [laughter] >> turnaround and face up. i am sorry. >> good advice. >> 1, 2, 3. mr. mayor, mr. coughlin general,

if you could -- mr. counsel general, if you could -- >> yay! [applause] >> i wanted to make sure that we recognize carol. thank you for your incredible stewardship of the gift shop and teahouse. thank you all for joining us. i encourage you to patrons are beautiful gift shop why you are here. otherwise, enjoy our incredible part. thank you. >> thank you. >> thank you, everybody.

>> hi, my name is pete shoemaker and well toll energy center. i'm standing in front of a model of a home. this is one of the tools we use here to assess solar energy. five years ago i was in a position similar to that of many of you. i was a homeowner thinking about solar electricity for my home. i had to answer a bunch of questions. one, does this stuff work? would it work on my home and most importantly, can i afford it? well, i did the research. i bought a system. now i get to share that knowledge and that experience with you. for the next 30 minutes, we'll have a class in solar basics and we'll go out in the field and see an actual solar system being installed. 30 minutes, solar basics, stay with me.