FM: Windsurfing is under threat for the 2024 Olympics – can you explain what has led to this and where we are at presently with appeals and the procedure process and the RYA’s part in it.
IW: Olympic disciplines are reviewed every four years by World Sailing. There are two review processes currently being carried out. In January the World Sailing Board placed four of the current ten Olympic sailing disciplines – RS:X men and women, Laser and Laser Radial – under anti-trust review due to the threat of legal action under EU Monopoly laws. The purpose of an anti-trust review is to ensure that World Sailing reviews those disciplines for which equipment has been in place for a long period of time and where there is a risk of a legal challenge. In selecting disciplines for anti-trust review World Sailing is not making any statement concerning the current equipment. World Sailing will make the decision to retain, evolve or select new equipment in November 2018.
Separate to this is the process by which World Sailing will select the disciplines for the 2024 Olympics at their mid-year meeting in May 2018 (likely to still be ten classes). The fact that there will need to be gender equity in the medals in 2024 means that at least one class will have to change. As of March 2018 there are five disciplines under review including men’s and women’s windsurfing – these were decided by the World Sailing Events Committee and approved by Council in February 2018. At the World Sailing mid-year meeting a ‘slate’ of five disciplines will need to be approved by the World Sailing Council. Britain has one of the 39 votes on Council.
The RYA recognises the pressure being put on World Sailing by the IOC agenda to modernise its sports, but has always supported the idea of windsurfing being part of the Olympics. Windsurfing is one of the most affordable and universal disciplines and as such should be well placed to remain in the Olympics, but it is all subject to the normal politics. Remember that whatever is agreed in May needs to be ratified at the AGM in November (which is how the kiteboarding / windsurfing decision was reversed last time).
