Three alternative event proposals approved for Paris 2024

When the International Olympic Committee (IOC) requested alternative event(s) to the Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat for sailing’s 10th medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the wheels got turning at the international governing body for the sport of sailing.

The IOC had previously approved the nine other events, but had informed World Sailing the Mixed Offshore Event proposal needed further review, with lingering concerns related to field of play, security, scope and complexity, broadcast cost and complexity and World Sailing not having the opportunity to deliver an Offshore World Championship.

Here’s the latest update from World Sailing:

On 23 April 2021 World Sailing’s Council unanimously approved the alternative event(s) proposal process to enable two alternative events to the Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat to be selected and proposed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for sailing’s 10th medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

This process commenced on 16 April 2021 after the IOC informed World Sailing that they are continuing their assessment of the Mixed Offshore Event to address challenges raised but formally requested that World Sailing propose alternative event(s).

Following a request from the IOC for such proposals, MNAs (Member Nations), Class Associations, Committee Chairs, and the Board were invited to propose alternative event suggestions in the form of submissions.

World Sailing received 26 submissions, and these were considered by the President and the Board with respect to their adherence to Regulation 23.1.11 which includes the IOC criteria framework.

The World Sailing Board and President approved three alternative event proposals in the 30 April 2021 Board Meeting. These are:
• Individual Men’s and Women’s Kiteboard Events – Formula Kite
• Individual Men’s and Women’s Two Person Dinghy Events – 470
• Mixed Team Racing – ILCA 6

The Board discussed and agreed there wasn’t strong enough alignment to the IOC criteria for all other submissions and one submission did not comply with the requirements of Regulation 23.1.11.

The Board’s considerations regarding all submissions received is available here. Where submissions were identical, these were consolidated to one joint submission in the name of all submitters.

At the 2021 Mid-Year Meeting the Constitution, Events and Equipment Committees will each meet on 10-11 May 2021. They will consider the submissions on alternative event(s) and make their respective recommendations to Council.

World Sailing’s Council will meet on 14 May 2021. They will discuss and vote on the three approved submissions. The outcome of the process will be a decision of two alternative event proposals, ranked in order of preference, ahead of the IOC deadline, which is 26 May 2021.