Will offshore racing make its debut in the Olympic sailing program at the Paris 2024 Games? The answer seemed certain since the decision of the International Federation, World Sailing, to include it among the ten series proposed to the IOC. The body chaired by Dane Kim Andersen voted for it by an overwhelming majority during its general assembly in November 2018 in Sarasota (United States).
A few weeks before the decision of the IOC Executive Board on the final choice of disciplines selected for the Paris 2024 Games, announced for the month of December, doubt is setting in. Within World Sailing, the conservative clan is organizing itself and is said to have gone on the offensive. Opposed to the entry of ocean racing into the Olympic program, they hope to convince Thomas Bach and the executive commission.
For Nicolas Hénard (photo below), the president of the French Sailing Federation (FFV), an ardent campaigner for the presence of offshore racing at the Paris 2024 Games, the discipline ticks all the boxes. He explained it to FrancsJeux.
FrancsJeux : Why is the entry of ocean racing into the program for the Paris 2024 Games now under threat?
Nicolas Hénard : The job had been done, by the French Sailing Federation and by World Sailing. After the general assembly in Sarasota in 2018, where the choice of 10 series for the Paris 2024 Games was approved by 77% of the votes, we proposed this program to the IOC. It was acquired. At least, we thought so, especially since this proposal fit perfectly with the expectations of the IOC and the Paris 2024 COJO to see the program evolve. But opponents of this choice have not given up. They continue to play the card of the old Olympic series. They are currently acting at the IOC level by leveraging their relationships.
What do they criticize about ocean racing?
They consider that it does not belong to Olympic sailing. But the French know well that ocean racing is part of the same family. It requires the same skills. François Gabart, Thomas Coville and Franck Cammas, in particular, experienced Olympic sailing and ocean racing. Opponents also mention the safety of boats at sea, while France has the best system in the world for protecting the maritime domain. They believe that offshore racing is too complicated, even though it is undoubtedly the simplest of the Olympic regattas. Finally, they mention the financial costs. But, here too, their arguments do not hold up. At the Games, boats will be provided to the crews. And for training, it is enough to have a boat of 8 to 10 m, the cost of which remains reasonable, being approximately 2 to 3 times higher than that of a boat of another Olympic class. Conversely, offshore racing can bring greater media exposure to sailing at the Games.
Who is leading the charge?
The Singaporean Ng Ser Miang, accompanied by some representatives from Eastern Europe. Ng Ser Miang was for a time (1994-1998) vice-president of the International Sailing Federation. He is a member of the IOC (he is even one of its vice-presidents, editor’s note). These opponents are attacking the symbols of change brought by World Sailing for the 2024 Games, ocean racing and kitesurfing. However, these two disciplines bring diversity, they reach a different audience and bring novelty, while embodying the values of Olympism, including respect for nature and solidarity.
The election for the presidency of World Sailing is currently underway. Can its result weigh in the balance?
Two candidates remain in the running: the Dane Kim Andersen, outgoing president, and the Chinese Li Quanhai, current vice-president. Kim Andersen was the promoter of this new program. But I don't know Li Quanhai's position on this issue. In fact, I never even heard him speak throughout the term.
What does the COJO Paris 2024 think?
When this new program was announced, Tony Estanguet and Jean-Philippe Gatien, the sports director, were delighted. They want sparkle, radiance, disciplines representative of a practice. Offshore racing represents 60% of sailing in the world. But today, the COJO is waiting for the program to be validated in Lausanne.
