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Valencia - Four new teams have signed up to race in the America's Cup, organisers said on Thursday.
Two teams from Italy and one each from Greece and Russia mean 18 syndicates are ready to challenge Swiss champion Alinghi in the 33rd edition of the sailing classic.
Italy's Luna Rossa and China Team also returned to the competition after initially pulling out following the last edition in July 2007. The former Areva Challenge team from France has returned as K-Challenge.
America's Cup Management said three teams originally entered had been rejected, while Carbon Challenge of Belgium withdrew.
AC Management said in the statement that three teams had been granted extensions to January 15 to verify "minor details." Organisers would not say which three those were.
Racing cannot begin before a New York judge first rules whether Alinghi must sail against BMW Oracle in a best-of-three series. A decision could be expected by February 10.
"(It is) significant that all but one of the teams from the previous edition have entered again," Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth said. "We will continue to work together with these challengers to make the 33rd America's Cup a success, regardless of BMW Oracle's decision to pursue their legal strategy to eliminate all challengers and force their way into an America's Cup match, something they have never achieved on the water."
BMW Oracle of the United States contends that the challenger of record - Desafio Espanol - is not a legitimate yacht club.
Organisers hope to begin sailing a match-race series at Valencia in 2010, with two pre-regattas scheduled for next year.
The new entries are Greek Challenge, Russia Team, and Italian pair Joe Fly and Dabliu Sail Project.
The remaining teams include: Shosholoza (South Africa), Team Origin (Britain), Team New Zealand, DCYC (Germany), Green Comm Challenge (Italy), Ayre Challenge (Spain), Mascalzone Latino (Italy), and Team French Spirit (France).
