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Multihulls out - IOC confirms just 10 Sailing events for 2012 Olympics
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today confirmed there will be just 10 sailing events at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The IOC has not saved ISAF Council from the consequences of its unpopular and clearly political Cascais 2007 decision to cut the multihulls from the Olympic program ahead of one of the dinghy classes.
The Executive Board of the IOC confirmed the line up of events and disciplines for the 26 sports on the Programme for the London 2012 Olympic Games at their meeting in Berlin, Germany today.
With broad grass roots recognition that ISAF had made mistake in its decision process, taking out the fastest and most spectacular sailing class from the Olympic program, ISAF was hoping that a request to the IOC to keep the number of sailing events at 11, maintaining the Open Multihull event would save them from further condemnation by sailors world-wide, however that has not happened.
The IOC President Jacques Rogge, the former Olympic Finn sailor wrote today to ISAF: 'Whilst the IOC Executive Board fully recognises the value that Sailing brings to the Olympic Games, it decided to maintain its decision of 2005 regarding the overall quota of sailors and medals. As a consequence, Tornado Multihull shall not be on the programme of the Games of the XXXth Olympiad in London.
The decision to reduce the number of sailing events at the 2012 Games from 11 to 10 was previously made by the IOC Executive Board in 2005, based on the recommendation from the IOC Olympic Programme Commission. At the 2007 ISAF annual meeting in Cascais, the decision was made to drop multihulls and a storm of criticism followed.
ISAF was one of 17 International Sports Federations who submitted a request to modify their events at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
These requests were analysed by the IOC Olympic Programme Commission, which submitted its finding to the Executive Board.
At a press conference following today's Executive Board meeting, the IOC President said the main reason for not granting requests for additional events received by sports was because the Games has reached maximum capacity, 'Most of the applications have been declined because all of the applications combined resulted in a potential accumulation of 720 athletes to the already 10,500 of Games.
The IOC President today confirmed ISAF President Göran Petersson and HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, a member of the ISAF Events Committee, are amongst six persons to be nominated by the Executive Board as IOC Members.
The recommendation of the Executive Board will be made to the current IOC Members who will vote on it at the next IOC Session to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark this October.
ISAF Secretary General Jerome Pels said: 'Of course we're disappointed that our request to keep the 11th medal has not been accepted but we understand and respect the IOC's decision.
We're sad to see the Multihull off the Olympic Programme for London 2012, but for 2016 Games there will be a new discussion on the events and equipment within ISAF with a possibility of a come back of the Multihull.
'We now look forward with great anticipation to the London 2012 Olympic Games. ISAF is working closely with the IOC and the London Organisers to ensure the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition builds on the successes achieved at Qingdao in 2008.'
The 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition will feature 380 athletes competing across the following 10 events, selected by the Council of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) in November 2007:
Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser
Men's One Person Dinghy Heavy - Finn
Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470
Men's Two Person Dinghy High Performance - 49er
Men's Windsurfer - RS:X
Men's Keelboat - Star
Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Women's Two Person Dinghy - 470
Women's Keelboat Match Racing - Elliott 6m
Women's Windsurfer - RS:X
The IOC Executive Board is the body responsible for deciding on events and disciplines at the Olympic Games. It consists of the IOC President, four Vice-Presidents and ten other members, elected at the IOC Session. The IOC Session, which brings together all IOC Members, remains responsible for the composition of sports on the Olympic programme.
by Rob Kothe Sail-World.com
