2020 Olympics - Recommendation for Tokyo classes to remain unchanged

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com on 10 Nov 2016 A report on an Olympic class website attributed to World Sailing says that the world body has decided to take the line of least resistance in respect of the 2020 Olympic class selection and retain the existing slate.

The World body will also approach the International Olympic Committee for an 11th medal of Event for Sailing. To accommodate IOC requirements regarding competitor numbers, it is proposed that athlete numbers will remain at 380 for Sailing.

At its Annual Conference, World Sailing have elected the International KiteBoard Association representative and Executive Secretary Markus Schwendtner as the Chairman of the Classes Committee. The Finn class representative and Executive Secretary Corrinne McKenzie is the Vice-Chair.

It would seem likely that if an 11th Sailing medal/Event is obtained than it will be allocated to Kiteboarding, or that Kites will come in as a demonstration event.

A submission by the Japan Sailing Federation queried the rapid pace of change being proposed by World Sailing in respect of the 2020 Olympic Sailing Events/Classes.

Essentially the Japanese say that it had been agreed in 2013 that changes to the Olympic classes would be signalled seven years in advance to ensure a more orderly transition and reduction of financial expense to sailors for upgrading equipment or shifting to a new class. Now World Sailing is proposing to give only three years notice of changes.

'The policy of WS regarding Events and Equipment is unpredictable at this moment and causing great concerns for athletes and MNAs,' says the Japan Sailing Federation.

To see the earlier story on Sail-World and the Japanese Sailing Federation submission click here

The report subsequently confirmed by World Sailing reads:

The President, Carlo Croce, with the support of all Board members, has decided, following his most recent communications with the IOC, that he, as President, shall not propose an alternative Olympic slate to Council in February 2017. This means that World Sailing would propose the existing 10 Events and Equipment for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sailing Competition.

In addition, World Sailing will continue to pursue the possibility of an 11th Medal in 2020 with the IOC on the basis that the total number of athletes remains at 380. Furthermore, World Sailing is also exploring the possibility of a showcase sailing event in Tokyo which if agreed would be over and above the existing athlete quota. The Board believes this strategy best protects existing investments and programmes, whilst enabling World Sailing to demonstrate innovation to the IOC.

The Board will continue to support changes in format and fleet sizes to best meet the objectives of the IOC’s Agenda 2020. These decisions will be made in accordance with normal World Sailing processes.

Regarding gender equity, the IOC has confirmed that gender equity in 2020 may be assessed at a “sport level” (i.e. on the basis of total number of athletes in each sport). Hence World Sailing can meet IOC’s gender equity requirements in 2020 with appropriate fleet quota changes, within sailing’s current 10 Events and can seek to achieve gender equity at an event level by 2024.