ISAF votes for Olympic strategy overhaul

by Sail-World on 16 Nov 2008 A major overhaul for ISAF's approach to Olympic sailing looks set to come into fruition after the Council accepted the need for an overall strategy towards the Olympic Sailing Competition. This decision is by far the most important to come from the 2008 Madrid Conference and as far as Olympic sailing probably one of the the most significant of the last decade.

Events Committee chairman Bjorn Unger (SWE) introduced Yachting Australia's Submission 082-08, proposing an overhaul of ISAF’s future Olympic strategy. 'This is perhaps the most important issue we have. We heard in our discussions yesterday that strategy was mentioned many, many times,' he said.

The Submission received a significant amount of support around the table. Class representative Jeff Martin (GBR) said 'One of reasons for supporting this is to create a longer term process in the build up to the selection of equipment, so the classes that aren’t Olympic have the chance to display what they can possibly offer the Olympics.'

Eric Tulla (PUR) added, 'It’s important we make plans with sufficient lead time to prepare ourselves for future Games.'

Following these recommendations, Submission 082-08 which will mean an revised role for the Olympic Advisory Commison was passed.

Phil Jones (AUS), representing Yachting Australia, the author of the Submission, was in Madrid to observe proceedings.

He commented 'We are delighted that the ISAF Committees and Council have all recognised the need for a comprehensive strategy for sailiing in the Olympic Games.

'Timing is everything and we have a window of opportunity in the next few years to bring about substantial and positive change. I sense there is a real will to move the sport forward.

'The challenge will be for ISAF to engage the many stakeholders in sailing - athletes, classes and member countries - in developing the strategy.

'Time is of the essance and the process will need to be properly resourced. There is a lot of work to do if we are to strenghten the position of sailing in the Olympics. The Commission has a big job ahead. We wish them well with the task ahead.'

Here is Submission: 082-08 in full - Olympic Sailing Competition - Strategy

A submission from the Yachting Australia

Proposal:
1. ISAF develops, agrees and promotes a comprehensive vision and overarching strategy for the sport of sailing in the Olympic Games. All future decisions, including those on events and equipment, will then be made in line with this
strategy.

2. The terms of reference and title of the existing Olympic Advisory Commission should be reviewed. The Commission will be responsible for the development the strategy for the sport of sailing in the Olympic Games in consultation with the relevant Committees, Sub Committees and Commissions. The Commission will oversee the development of sailing in the Olympic Games, monitoring and providing input to ensure that all decisions taken are in line with the agreed
strategy.

3. The Executive Committee should reconstitute the Commission as soon as possible, with the terms of reference, associated processes and implementation schedule agreed at the ISAF Mid-Meeting in May 2009.

Current Position:

There is no overarching strategy. The current ISAF Yearbook does not list the Olympic Advisory Commission as one of the Commissions, nor are its’ members listed. Despite the importance to our sport, no single group within ISAF is dedicated solely to the development of sailing in the Olympic Games.

Reasons:

1 The Need for a Strategy

1.1 In order to strengthen the position of sailing in the Olympic Games it is essential that ISAF set a strategy that is transparent and widely understood. The decisions taken in November 2007 on the Olympic Events for 2012 are an
obvious example that ISAF is simply not working to a clear strategy.

1.2 In September 2004, ISAF was asked to complete a questionnaire and return it the IOC Sports Department. It is based on the information provided by ISAF that the 'IOC Olympic Programme Commission Report – 24 May 2005' in
discussing 'Increasing the Appeal of the Sport' states: 'With a view to presenting its sport in a more interesting and attractive manner, the ISAF has taken the following steps….Equipment innovation introducing faster and more spectacular boats, on-board cameras and sound and GPS responders displaying boat positions.'

1.3 This was in 2005. In November 2007, ISAF made two decisions that moved sailing in the Olympic Games in a different direction. Both the removal of the Multihull and the choice not to introduce a High Performance Dinghy for Women are examples that would be considered contrary to the direction indicated to the IOC just 2 years previously.

1.4 Our vision and strategy for the Olympic Games must be future focused. The sport is becoming more professional. More than ever, the decisions taken by ISAF are effecting the lives of our young, elite athletes. Sudden, unexpected
changes in strategy can have a major impact. ISAF has a responsibility to set and maintain a clear direction. This will allow sailors, coaches and administrators to plan accordingly. Certainty is a key to our future success.

2 The Value of the Olympic Games to Sailing

2.1 ISAF must have in place a strategy that strengthens our value as a sport in the Olympic Games. This is a matter of sound, pragmatic business sense.

2.2 ISAF has a product, Sailing. We have one key partner, being the IOC. We promote our product to the IOC, as do other sports.

2.3 The IOC packages a number of sports together to ‘sell’ to the global market.

Collectively and under the brand of the Olympic Games, the IOC generates considerable sponsorship and rights revenue. The greater the audience interest, the more valuable the rights to the various sports that the IOC is selling
and the greater the revenue that can be generated. Over 50% of the IOC income is generated from broadcast rights.

2.4 We share in a portion of the revenue from these broadcast rights. In fact our sport relies on the IOC for approximately 65% of the income of ISAF. The IOC is therefore a very important partner for ISAF.

2.5 ISAF Member National Authorities (MNAs) also benefit significantly as a result of sailing being an Olympic sport. Governments, National Olympic Committees and sponsors support many MNAs because, and only because, our sport is in the Olympic Games. This support is estimated to be more than half a billion Euros every 4 years. Both ISAF and the MNAs therefore have a collective interest in ensuring the IOC is as satisfied as possible with the performance of
our sport in the Olympic Games.

2.6 The IOC publishes tables that show that on the ladder of hours of broadcast from the Olympic Games, our sport sits at 26 out of 281. Set against this, the television coverage of our sport is very expensive by comparison to other
sports, as are the facilities for hosting it. The IOC also notes a number of other significant facts, such as ticket revenues for our sport account for around one 1/4 of one percent of the total from the Olympic Games.

2.7 There are a number of other sports that would very much like the IOC to adopt their sport in preference to ours. Other sports lobby the IOC for inclusion and are prepared to be flexible and adapt their sports to make them more attractive to the IOC needs.

IOC Olympic Programme Commission Report – 24 May 2005

2.8 The IOC has made it clear to ISAF for a number of years that there is concern over the level of public and media interest that there is in sailing. They also express some concerns about the costs of staging the sport. Are there ways we can perhaps make sailing more attractive and less expensive?

2.9 ISAF has responded by making some changes to our sport. We run more races around shorter courses; we introduce a medal race, an effort to provide a '