ISAF invites Nominations for ISAF Athletes' Commission Members

by ISAF on 30 Apr 2009 The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is inviting athletes to nominate candidates to represent their Olympic event on the ISAF Athletes' Commission.

The ISAF Athletes' Commission represents the interests of the sailors in the Olympic events and reports directly to the ISAF Executive Committee. The Athletes' Commission is composed of athletes representing each Olympic event (one athlete representing each event), and is elected by the athletes themselves.

The elections for the members of the 2009-2013 Athletes' Commission will take place online via the ISAF website www.sailing.org from 25-31 May 2009, concurrently with the Delta Lloyd Regatta, event five of the ISAF Sailing World Cup. ISAF is now inviting athletes to nominate candidates to represent their Olympic event on the ISAF Athletes' Commission. The final date for candidates to put their name forward is 20 May 2009.

Alastair Fox, ISAF Events Manager, said, 'The Athletes' Commission has already established itself as a key voice within ISAF and its decision-making process. The work of Commission has been invaluable, not just in the build up to and during the ISAF Annual Conference, but by providing a direct link to the sailors in other areas of ISAF's day-to-day operation including the ISAF Sailing World Cup Management Group. We are encouraging all athletes to consider putting themselves or others forwards for this important role.'

Candidates can be nominated in each of the 10 sailing events selected for the 2012 London Olympic Games:

Equipment - Event

RS:X - Men's Windsurfer
RS:X - Women's Windsurfer
Laser - Men's One Person Dinghy
Laser Radial - Women's One Person Dinghy
Finn - Men's One Person Dinghy Heavy
470 - Men's Two Person Dinghy
470 - Women's Two Person Dinghy
49er - Men's Two Person Dinghy High Performance
Star - Men's Keelboat
Elliott 6m - Women's Keelboat Match Racing

More details on who is eligible to stand for election, who can nominate and vote for candidates, and how to make a nomination is detailed below.

I. Eligibility

To be eligible to serve on the ISAF Athletes' Commission, athletes must have participated in the Olympic Games or be 'actively campaigning for the Olympic Games'. Athletes must also be classified as an ISAF Sailor, be a member in good standing of the class association of their event and of their Member National Authority (MNA) and hold an ISAF World Ranking.

The athletes elected will serve a four-year term to align with the Olympic quadrennial. An athlete may serve as the ISAF Athletes' Commission representative for a maximum of two terms. Athletes nominated cannot be an officer or paid employee of their MNA and/or Class Association and simultaneously serve on the ISAF Athletes' Commission.

II. Nominations

Any ISAF Sailor may propose a candidate from their Olympic event. Athletes may also nominate themselves. Only athletes ranked on the ISAF World Rankings may nominate an athlete for their event or nominate themselves. All nominations must be accepted by the nominee and seconded prior to the actual voting. Nominees who do not accept their nomination or fail to gain a seconder shall not be included on the final ballot for voting.
All nominations must be completed and submitted to ISAF via the Athletes' Commission Nomination Form available via the link below. All nominations must be received by Wednesday 20 May 2009.

Access the Athletes' Commission Nomination Form at www.sailing.org/athletes.

III. Voting

Voting will take place online via the ISAF website from 25-31 May, concurrent with the Delta Lloyd Regatta, event five of the ISAF Sailing World Cup. Only athletes who are 'actively campaigning for the Olympic Games' and ranked on the ISAF World Rankings will be entitled to vote for candidates in the Olympic event in which they are campaigning. The voting methods and voting timeframes will be clearly published by ISAF.

ISAF encourages all athletes to consider putting themselves or others forwards for this important role.

About The ISAF Athletes' Commission

The role of the ISAF Athletes' Commission is to act as the link between active Olympic sailors and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

ISAF organizes one meeting each year, which is held at the ISAF Secretariat, usually in late September or early October. ISAF covers travel, accommodation and sustenance for this meeting, which is usually held over two days during a weekend. Other meetings are co-ordinated by the Athletes' Commission at ISAF Graded events.

The members of the Athletes' Commission are expected to represent the interests of Olympic sailors to ISAF, and to encourage open communication and feedback from the sailors.