British endorse USA Olympic scheme

The British Sailing Team has been the dominant Olympic program, passing the USA in both the total and gold medal count. The two programs had been going in opposite directions, though the USA has been raising the stakes on turning around its trajectory.

A significant change for the USA program has been the heightened emphasis on aspiring Olympians, with camps and counseling to give them the tools needed for when they do begin their Olympic campaigns.

While the USA initiative, branded as the Olympic Development Program, has yet to bear fruit, it appears to be endorsed by the British team which has announced a similar scheme:
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The British Sailing Team has launched its new development academy the British Sailing Squad, aimed at developing Olympic stars of the future.

The British Sailing Squad will act as an apprenticeship to the senior British Sailing Team, giving talented young sailors a taste of Olympic campaigning the opportunity to perform on the international stage.

Sailors will get to train alongside British Sailing Team athletes, as well as access the team’s world-class performance services at its base in Portland, Dorset.

The British Sailing Squad will form a key part of the RYA performance pathway, which aims to nurture, develop and retain talented young racing sailors from Junior level with Regional Training Groups to squads at Youth level.

The British Sailing Squad is the next step towards fully-funded Olympic campaigning following the Transition phase of the pathway.
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While ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’, they did add the “fully-funded” reference, which is a level at which the USA would like to copy them. Maybe someday…

Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Program:
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s Skiff – 49erFx
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFoil
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFoil
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17

Venue: Marseille, France
Dates: July 26-August 11

Details: https://www.paris2024.org/en/the-olympic-games-paris-2024/