SingaporeSailing's 5-prong plan to catch the Olympic wind

by Tan Yo-Hinn, todayonline.com on 1 Aug 2011 Despite winning 16 world junior and youth titles the last seven years, Singapore’s sailors have not replicated these honours at the senior and Olympic levels. There is also a high drop-out rate. To address these, SingaporeSailing's Olympic Pathway Taskforce, formed six months ago, released five recommendations to ensure success at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and beyond. They are: The establishment of joint-management teams, milestone planning, forming regional alliances, merit-driven funding and an Olympic pathway.

Six boat classes - the women's Laser Radial, Skiff and 470, men's 470, and men's and women's windsurfing - have also been identified as having 'possible to best' chances of winning medals at the Rio Games.

Speaking before the first annual SingaporeSailing Awards Night at Rochester Park last night, SingaporeSailing president and taskforce chairman Ben Tan said: 'We're stuck somewhere and need to do something about it, so this is to address these gaps and come up with the solutions.'

Success at the junior level does not always translate to medals at the Olympics. A minimum of seven to 10 years is required to produce an Olympic medallist.

While funding for the recommendations have not been finalised, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) said they are prepared to help with additional finances beyond the S$3 million-odd that the SSC grant SingaporeSailing yearly.

Full story - http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/EDC110801-0000056/Sailings-5-prong-plan-to-catch-the-Olympic-wind