America’s Cup decision-makers in Bermuda have vowed to put environmental concerns at the top of their agenda in the build-up to the 2017 sailing spectacle.

The pledge was made by Mike Winfield yesterday as a panel of experts outlined how the event would affect the Island during the inaugural Bermuda Tourism Summit.

Mr Winfield, chief executive of the newly formed America’s Cup Bermuda (ACBDA), told a 300-strong audience that environmental issues would be considered during the extensive development needed to host the event. In response to a question by Stuart Hayward, chairman of the Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST), Mr Winfield said: “From the get-go, environmental concerns and the focus of legislation has been to ensure that we do not do damage to our environment just to get benefit.

“Environmental concerns have always been right at the top of the agenda.

“You can be absolutely assured that environmental concerns will be at the top of our priorities both in the Ministry [for Economic Development] and outside of the ministry.” Addressing Mr Hayward directly, he added: “You are going to be involved. We are going to reach out and talk to everyone.

“We hope that this will not involve BEST objecting, but BEST suggesting.”

Mr Winfield’s comments came at the end of a presentation by Grant Gibbons, the Economic Development Minister, Peter Durhager, the chairman of the board for the ACBDA, Mr Winfield and Peter Rusch, the director of communications for the America’s Cup Event Authority.

Mr Winfield revealed that the ACBDA had been flooded with “400 e-mails a day” with queries and suggestions about the America’s Cup since the board of directors was unveiled on Monday.

Mr Durhager told the Tourism Summit audience that he hoped the America’s Cup would stimulate a change of economic fortune, but also community perspective in Bermuda.

“I hope that some of the jobs and opportunities that come about as a result will awaken our senses,” he said. “There are a whole bunch of legacy things. I hope the hallmark of the America’s Cup is a shift in our attitude and mental state for the future. This event can be transformational: partly physical and visual, partly emotional and partly the perspective that we share in the community.”