Decisive test for Sailing at 2028 Olympics

Dan Ibsen reviews the situation Sailing is facing to provide a better broadcast competition format at the Olympic Games. This report is translated from Danish publication Baad Magasinet:

Sailing is at a crossroads leading up to the 2028 Olympics. For decades, the sport has attempted to modernize itself through new boat classes, changed competition rules, and the introduction of final races.

Yet the message from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has become increasingly clear: it is not enough. The core of the challenge is no longer which boats are sailed in. It is about something far more fundamental – whether sailing can function as a modern media and spectator sport.

TV logic meets nature’s conditions
The requirement for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics is concrete and uncompromising. The final races must be able to be completed within a fixed TV slot of approximately 26–27 minutes. In practice, this means that the races themselves must be designed to last around 15 minutes.

It’s a significant change for a sport where wind and weather have traditionally been the deciding factors. Sailing’s unpredictability is part of its DNA – but this very unpredictability has become a problem in a world where TV rights and broadcasting platforms drive the agenda.

If the wind blows and a final cannot be completed on time, it is not the TV schedule that is adjusted. It is the sport that must bend. In practice, transmissions may be interrupted by scheduled advertising blocks or change focus to other disciplines if the time frame is exceeded.

A system under pressure
At the same time, efforts are being made to eliminate other uncertainty factors. Restarts – long a challenge for both viewers and producers – are being reduced through new technology such as electronic false start registration, including via the Vakaros system.

The ambition is to create a streamlined sports experience without interruptions. But the question is how much control can be achieved before the sport loses its character.

The problem is not the boat types
The debate in sailing for the past 25 years has revolved around the choice of boat classes – perhaps too much. In light of the IOC’s requirements, this may be a derailment.

During this period, repeated changes have been made to the Olympic boat types as well as some adaptation of the format, including a medal race – without solving the sport’s fundamental problem: Lack of impact with the audience and on TV.

The central problem is not the equipment, but the product. Sailing still struggles to retain viewers, create drama that is easy to read, and deliver a narrative that works in real time on a screen.

Therefore, it also appears to be a serious misjudgment if the focus continues to be too much on material adjustments rather than dissemination, format, and accessibility.

A realization that is missing
There is much evidence that neither the international federation World Sailing nor the national sailing unions have fully understood the seriousness of the situation.

The IOC’s signals are not new. The demands for media suitability, audience appeal, and commercial sustainability have been clear for years. Yet sailing’s adaptation is lagging.

If sailing cannot deliver a product that works in a modern media reality, it is difficult to see how it can maintain its place in the Olympic program in the long term.

The risk of choosing the wrong one
In the midst of this transition, specific strategic questions also arise. One of the most significant is the discussion about kitesurfing.

The discipline was once pushed into the Olympic program with the support of the IOC precisely because it represents some of what the organization is looking for: speed, visual dynamism, simplicity, and appeal to a younger audience. Kitesurfing is also one of the most widespread and modern forms of sailing globally. That is precisely why it appears as a paradox – and potentially a mistake – if the discipline is downgraded or removed.

At a time when sailing is struggling for its relevance, it seems risky to opt out of one of the disciplines that actually matches the IOC’s wishes.

When the format becomes too complex
At the same time, there are signs that some of the new formats are moving in a problematic direction. The test in Mallorca, for example, has shown a setup that appears difficult to understand – even for insiders.

For the average viewer, it risks being opaque. And for a TV announcer, it can be almost impossible to communicate in a way that creates engagement and understanding in real time.

This highlights a key point: In trying to modernize sport, you risk making it less accessible. Complexity is rarely a strength in a TV context.

A decisive test
The sport of sailing is thus caught in a double challenge. It must both simplify and accelerate – without losing its identity.

The 2028 Olympics will be a real stress test. If they can create short, intense, and understandable finals that work both on the water and on screen, the sport can strengthen its position. But if the format fails – if races cannot be completed, if the rules are incomprehensible, or if viewership fails – the pressure from the IOC will only increase.

Ultimately, the question is brutally simple: Can sailing become a product that works in a modern media economy?

If the answer is no, it is not certain that even a strong 100-year Olympic tradition will be enough to save it.

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Sailing Program (July 16-28):
First Week – July 16-20
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA

Second Week – July 23-28
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6 – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470 – Los Angeles, CA
Men’s Skiff – 49er – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s Skiff – 49erFX – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17 – Los Angeles, CA

For more details, click here.