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Nuclear deal upsets Greenpeace

The French team plans to launch its boat in May

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Environmental campaigners are threatening to disrupt the French America's Cup challenge because of its nuclear sponsorship.

The French challenge Le Defi Areva is sponsored by nuclear conglomerate Areva.

French environmental protesters, led by Alain Rivat, plan to disrupt the sailing trials of the French team in Lorient, south Brittany as they prepare to leave for New Zealand.

Rivat says it will be a peaceful protest with yachts and inflatable boats.

Rivat is protesting against the $23 million sponsorship by Areva.

"Unless Areva renounces the sponsorship the boat will never arrive in Auckland," Rivat said.

The boat is due to be launched in May and the challenger series begins in October.

Areva, involved in mining, power generation and reprocessing of nuclear fuels, was formed by the French government in September 2001. It operates 60 plants in 29 countries and has 45,000 employees worldwide.

Rivat feels that since this is indirect sponsorship by the French government they should find another sponsor for the team.

Areva vice-chairman Jacques-Emmanuel Saulnier says that they are not part of the nuclear arms industry and had nothing to do with the sinking of Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior boat by French secret service agents in Auckland in 1985 which killed a photographer.

"We should not be held accountable for what happened 20 years ago." Saulnier said.

"New Zealanders know very well the difference between civil and military nuclear capabilities. When we explain this to them, then they will understand."

Greenpeace in New Zealand is planning non-violent protests in Auckland which could disrupt the racing.

When asked about possible protests, America's Cup minister Trevor Mallard said: "I have no problems with legal protest, illegal actions would be a matter for the police."

He also said the New Zealand Government was unlikely to prevent nuclear sponsorship at the America's Cup in Auckland next year.

New Zealand bans tobacco advertising, but Mallard said he was not in favour of extending the ban to include nuclear products.