Look - some degree of success.......
The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has today welcomed the International Sailing Federation’s move to reconsider the slate of sailing events for the 2012 Olympic Games.
A controversial decision by ISAF Council during its annual conference in November 2007 led to the decision not to include a modern high performance dinghy for women, the expulsion of the multihull event and the introduction of a match racing format for the women’s keelboat event.
The RYA lobbied ISAF and fellow Member National Authorities, believing that the decisions taken were not in the best interests of the sport of sailing throughout the world, and requested that ISAF reviewed its decision on three grounds:
That the current list of events will not maximise media interest.
That the decisions are likely to attract fewer nations and young sailors into the sport of sailing
That an amendment to the previously agreed voting procedure was hasty, and the process ultimately used for selecting events was flawed
ISAF has agreed to re-open the discussion surrounding the sailing events for 2012 at its mid-year conference at Qingdao, China, in May.
RYA Chief Executive Rod Carr said: “We welcome the opportunity ISAF have presented to us to have a full and frank debate on these issues at the mid-year meetings.
“We believe the original decisions at the November conference were made in haste, and with many delegates not having a clear understanding of the issues involved and the process concerned.
“We hope that the meetings next month will pave the way for an inclusive and modern slate of events which will showcase our sport in the best possible light in 2012.”
Thanks for that Bob. Let's hope that the outcome is a favourable one.
