Paris 2024 Olympic venue selected for Sailing's 2018 World Cup Series Final
by Daniel Smith, World Sailing 2 Dec 2017 07:34 PST
3-10 June 2017
Marseille hosted the RS:X Europeans in May © World Sailing
World Sailing's World Cup Series Final in 2018 will head to Marseille, France, the host city for the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition.
The World Cup Series is the definitive guide to the best-of-the-best in Olympic sailing with clear objectives to showcase and develop Olympic sailing, create sporting heroes and engage sports fans, and excite sponsors and broadcasters.
The 2017/2018 World Cup Series commenced in Japan in October. Miami will host the American round in January 2018 followed by Hyères, France in April.
Marseille will host the final from 3 – 10 June 2018.
World Sailing's Board of Directors conducted a formal review and evaluation of bids received from Tallinn, Estonia as well as Marseille with the French venue awarded the event, subject to the signing of the event contract.
"Once an Olympic venue is announced, sailors are eager to train, race and compete on the waters of the Olympic Sailing Competition," commented World Sailing President Kim Andersen.
"The competition is dependent on the natural environment and sailors have to learn how to read the tidal patterns and wind conditions to best prepare for the Games itself.
"When Marseille hosts the 2018 World Cup Final, we will be more than six years away from the Paris 2024 but this provides the Olympic hopefuls with a world class competition to commence their journey to the Olympic Games.
"Marseille is an internationally renowned sailing venue and we are delighted to be working with the Fédération Française de Voile once again."
Nicolas Henard, President of the Fédération Française de Voile said, "I am really delighted with the decision of World Sailing to award the FFVoile and the city of Marseille the organisation of the 2018 World Cup Final. We will work closely with World Sailing to make sure the event will be a great success and identify Marseille as one of the iconic international sailing venues.
"As a former Olympic sailor, I am especially proud to welcome the elite international sailors. We will be certain to ensure our bests efforts make this event the starting point until the 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition."
World Sailing Director of Events, Alastair Fox, commented, "The World Cup Final in 2018 will present an excellent opportunity for sailors and officials to experience the Paris 2024 Olympic Games sailing venue and continue a strong relationship with the Fédération Française de Voile in the lead up to 2024."
The Series is an annual circuit of Olympic sailing for elite and professional sailors, and a key touchpoint for fans and media to connect to the sport of sailing and develop support for athletes on their road to Tokyo 2020 and beyond. Over 2,000 of the world's leading sailors, representing 75 nations, have competed in the World Cup Series since its inception in 2008.