The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is to campaign for Disabled Sailing’s inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and has appointed VERO Communications to advise and support its campaign. The decision to press the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to add Disabled Sailing to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games comes on the back of ISAF formally taking over the management of Disabled Sailing in November 2014, and the integration of the International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) into ISAF.
Carlo Croce, ISAF President said, “Following the merger of IFDS into ISAF at the end of last year, Disabled Sailing is now under new professional management. This is a new era for Disabled Sailing with ISAF now able to fully utilise its technical, financial, promotional and strategic resources to bring significant benefits to Disabled Sailing. For example, we are now working hard to put in place a much enhanced, professional and aligned four year competition programme for Disabled Sailing, as well as generate greater media, broadcast and promotional opportunities for the sport following integration into ISAF’s wider communications planning and activities.
ISAF President Carlo Croce
“These are all new developments since the merger of IFDS into ISAF and it is important that we now effectively communicate this new era for Disabled Sailing to the IPC. I’m delighted that we have the proven expertise of VERO Communications to support us in this cause. Our focus now is to build the case for Disabled Sailing’s inclusion in Tokyo 2020, much of which will be centred around new evidence, as well as stressing some of the unique attributes of Disabled Sailing, including the fact that it is the only sport where athletes with the highest level of disability can compete equally against athletes with other disabilities. I very much hope, upon receipt of this new evidence, that the IPC will look favourably on our case.”
Mike Lee OBE, Chairman of VERO added, “VERO is delighted to support ISAF in their campaign to see Disabled Sailing included in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The sport has a strong story to tell, especially since it was merged into ISAF at the end of 2014, and we look forward to working with the sailing community to ensure that this new era for Disabled Sailing is effectively communicated.”
The ISAF Disabled Sailing Committee (IFDS) is profoundly disappointed by the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to exclude sailing from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
IFDS responded in a timely and comprehensive manner to queries from IPC, with details of sailors that participate regularly in international regattas or national championships, on Paralympic boats.
IFDS ensures an extensive quadrennial program of international competitions replicating the Olympic Program organized by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), including ISAF Sailing World Cup. IFDS sanctions and organizes yearly Combined World Championships in the Paralympic classes.
Development has resulted in the regular addition of new countries to competitive sailing. The process of merging with ISAF (with a membership of 139 Member National Authorities) was completed in November of 2014, with the main aim of opening a whole new field for the development of disabled sailing. During the period of pre-merging, ISAF always respected the independence of IFDS decisions. Through ISAF’s development programmes, worldwide participation initiatives and event structure, the opportunities for disabled sailing are better than ever before.
IFDS fully appreciates how devastated all the stakeholders are by IPC’s decision, be they sailors, coaches, sponsors, National Sailing or Paralympic Authorities.
Now ISAF will promptly address any items identified by the IPC in a bid to reinstate sailing back into the Paralympic Games as soon as possible.
The 2014 ISAF Annual Conference has drawn to a close in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
From 1-8 November 2014 more than 500 delegates from over 70 nations gathered in Palma to discuss, debate and decide on the decisions that will take the sport forward into 2015 and beyond.
ISAF Council, the final decision making body of ISAF, met on 7 and 8 November to vote on the recommendations for the expert committees. The 2014 Annual General Meeting brought the Conference to a close.
Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition
The final day format for the 49er and the 49erFX was a hotly discussed topic with a lengthy debate. ISAF Council voted for one double points Medal Race without boundaries and a target time of 20 minutes.
It was also decided that all supplied equipment at the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition should be distributed after a public draw, ensuring transparency.
As part of the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition Qualification System, ISAF included Continental Qualification Events in the pathway to help develop sailing around the world. Reflecting the IOC Qualification System Principles the key requirements are to ensure participation of the best athletes and ensure universality through continental representation.
ISAF Council agreed on the recommendation from the Events Committee on the regattas that will be held in 2015 and 2016.
African qualification events will be held at the 2016 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta in Mallorca, Spain as well as events in Cape Town, South Africa and Algeria.
The 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Asia and 2015 ASAF Cup in UAE will see the Asian qualification spots picked up.
European spots will be available at the 2016 Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta with 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne providing the Oceanic qualifiers.
The 2015 Pan-American Games will decide one quota place each in the Laser and Laser Radial for North and South America.
The additional places will be up for grabs at the 2016 edition of ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami.
International Association for Disabled Sailing Merger with ISAF
The International Association for Disabled Sailing’s (IFDS) merger with ISAF was completed with the creation of an ISAF Disabled Sailing Committee.
The Disabled Sailing Committee will be responsible for the Paralympic Sailing Competition including events and equipment selection, the IFDS World Championships and administration.
Disabled Sailing Committee representatives will liaise with other committees to offer their specialist expertise.
The merger creates a single governing body for MNAs and sailors to better serve the needs and interests of sailors with disabilities.
ISAF President Carlo Croce and Royal Spanish Sailing Federation President José Ángel Rodríguez. photo credit ISAF
Classification Code
Submission 025-14 was withdrawn in advance of the ISAF Council meeting but with an agreement that the implementation of a revision to the system would be discussed between the Executive and the ISAF Sailor Classification Commission.
ISAF Youth Worlds
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA will host the 2018 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship subject to a successful site visit and satisfactory contractual agreements.
The following events and equipment for the 2017 ISAF Youth Worlds were also agreed by Council:
Boy’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
Girl’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
Boy’s Two Person Dinghy – 420
Girl’s Two Person Dinghy – 420
Boy’s Windsurfer – RS:X with 8.5 sail
Girl’s Windsurfer – RS:X with 8.5 sail
Open multihull – Sirena SL16
Boy’s Skiff – 29er
Girl’s Skiff – 29er
The Equipment Committee recommended the new Nacra15 for the Open Multihull event and this will be discussed at the 2015 ISAF Mid-Year Meeting in the Netherlands with the earliest possible introduction of the new equipment being 2018.
ISAF Council at the 2014 ISAF Annual Conference -1, photo credit ISAF
Other Business
The 2016 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship will head to Sheboygan, USA whilst Noumea, New Caledonia, France will host the 2016 ISAF Youth Match Racing World Championship. Both venues are subject to a successful site visit and satisfactory contractual agreements.
The 2015 Nations Cup Grand Final will head to Vladivostock, Russia with Regional Finals to be held in Buenos Aires (ARG), Zallaq (BRN), Howth (IRL), San Diego (USA), Tunis (TUN) and Brisbane (AUS).
ISAF welcomes Macau and Montserrat to the ISAF family. Both were awarded associate member status.
Submission 127-14 as amended by the Racing Rules Committee was approved effective 1 January 2015. Other amendments to the Racing Rules and Equipment Rules of Sailing were approved following recommendations from the expert committees. The changes will be incorporated into the next edition of the rule books published for 2017-2020.
ISAF Council meeting at the 2014 ISAF Annual Conference, photo credit. ISAF
The Equipment Committee, Events Committee and Executive Committee will meet at the 2015 Mid-Year Meeting in Muiden, Netherlands from 7-9 May 2015 with the 2015 ISAF Annual Conference to be held in Sanya, China from 7-14 November 2015.
Full details of all the decisions made at the ISAF Annual Conference will be published in the minutes of the meetings for the ISAF Council and all ISAF Committees, which will be published on the ISAF Meetings microsite at http://www.sailing.org/meetings in the coming weeks.
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