A month. The International Sailing Federation (World Sailing) now has only four weeks to try to save offshore racing from the program for the Paris 2024 Games. Save the discipline or, the most credible scenario today, find an alternative.
Recall of facts. In November 2018, the World Sailing general assembly approved by an overwhelming majority (77%) the choice of the ten boat classes to be proposed to the IOC for the Paris 2024 Games. In the list, among the new features, the entry offshore racing, a mixed event contested over three days.
Last December, the IOC Executive Board validated 9 of the 10 series proposed by World Sailing. But she left one to the side: ocean racing. She asked for more details, including on the costs, protection and security of the discipline.
The IOC Executive Board has postponed its final decision until June 8, 2021. In the meantime, World Sailing must provide its answers no later than May 26. And, in addition, propose an alternative solution.
According to those first concerned, the wind would blow in the opposite direction. “ Ocean racing is not officially refused by the IOC, but it is clear that it will be difficult to move forward », recognized the Pole Tomasz Chamera, one of the vice-presidents of the international body, during a recent press briefing by videoconference.
Same pessimism among Frenchman Yann Rocherieux, elected last year as vice-president of World Sailing. “ It’s very badly started, he explained to Telegram. The information we have is not very optimistic. The IOC asked us, in a letter, to prepare one or more alternatives. This is the first time that he has not completely followed the recommendations of our federation. »
The letter cited by the French leader is dated April 12. The IOC does not mention an already recorded rejection of ocean racing, but clearly suggests that the Olympic future of the discipline is hanging by a thread.
The IOC recalls its reservations, already formulated after the meeting of its Executive Board in December 2020: the risks for the safety of the race, the costs of television production, the complexity of the media coverage of a three-day event contested offshore , and finally the absence of a qualifying world championship.
But the real reason would be more political. Behind the scenes, a man has been working for several months to influence the decision of the IOC Executive Board. The Singaporean Ng Ser Miang, a veteran of the Olympic body, campaigns for the status quo. He would have increased calls to Thomas Bach to exclude offshore racing from the Paris 2024 Games, in particular for the benefit of two current series, windsurfing RS: .
David Graham, the Managing Director of World Sailing, reiterated it recently: “ Ocean racing remains our first choice for Paris 2024, we chose it democratically.". But the international body, chaired since last year by the Chinese Li Quanha, cannot allow it to stick too firmly to its positions. She will have to submit other options, otherwise she risks losing one of her ten medal events.
One or more alternatives will be discussed by World Sailing in the executive committee on May 10 and 11. It will then be submitted to the Council for a vote on May 14.
Among the options already placed on the table, maintaining the Finn would hold the rope. A historic series of Olympic sailing, present at the Tokyo Games, it could appeal to the IOC, particularly with its diversity.
