Photos: L ©2008 Oskar Kihlborg/Ericsson Racing R ©2008 Oskar Kihlborg/Ericsson Racing

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Tue, 13 May 2008 15:30:00 UTC

Ericsson Racing Team has confirmed that Magnus "Mange" Olsson will be an on-board crew member of their Nordic entry in the 2008-09 race.

It will be Olsson’s sixth lap around the world as a Whitbread/Volvo sailor. His first Whitbread was on board Drum in 1985-86. Subsequent races included 1989-90 (The Card), 1993-94 (Intrum Justitia). In 1997-98 he was a winner aboard EF Language and finished second with Assa Abloy in 2001-02.

He also had a shore-based role as technical director with Ericsson in 2005-06.

Swede Olsson has been working with Ericsson Racing Team since the middle of 2006 as coach for the Nordic crew and has assisted skipper Anders Lewander with training and recruitment.

But now, at the age of 59, he's ready to get back into the thick of it. "I hesitated for a second, but just for a second," says Olsson. "But I can't imagine anything more fun.

"I don't see my age as an issue. I'm in good shape and I feel I have a lot to contribute on board in this race. I would have said no if I didn't think I was capable.”

Lewander added: "The idea of getting Mange on board has grown slowly but surely. We have loads of youthful enthusiasm, desire and strength. Now we'll add experience and knowledge."

Ericsson has its training base on Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, in the Canary Islands. The two crews are training and preparing for the Volvo Ocean Race, which will start from Alicante, Spain, in October 2008.

You can watch hours of race video at www.VolvoOceanRace.tv, the official Race TV channel for free!

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