London 2012 will feature 10 sailing events
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed the number of sailing events at the London games.
IOC officials confirmed the line up of Olympic events for the 2012 Olympic Games at a Berlin meeting today.
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) was gunning for 11 sailing events, maintaining the Open Multihull event.
IOC’s Jacques Rogge wrote 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 sailing events to be shown at the 2012 Olympic will be these 10:
Men’s One Person Dinghy – Laser
Men’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men’s Two Person Dinghy High Performance – 49er
Men’s Windsurfer – RS:X
Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy – Finn
Men’s Keelboat – Star
Women’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
Women’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Women’s Windsurfer – RS:X
Women’s Keelboat Match Racing – Elliott 6m
ISAF’s 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.”
At a later press conference, Rogge claimed not allowing additional sailing events was because the Games have reached a threshold, “Most of the applications have been politely declined because all of the applications combined resulted in a potential accumulation of 720 athletes to the already 10,500 of Games. So we kindly said to the Federations, sorry but we cannot accommodate your request.”
We would like to thank www.sailing.org for quotes used in this article.