ISAF Host - Daniel Smith:
Today the Events Committee recommended Submission 055-12 which would see Men's and Women's RS:X replace kiteboarding for Rio 2016. **This is not the final decision.** The ISAF Council will make the final decision. We issued a Press Release on 26 October which outlined the process to let everyone know.

This stated, "The Olympic events and equipment are defined in Regulation 23.1.4 and it is also defined that Council can only make changes to this Regulation and the timeframes detailed in Regulation 23.1.3 if at least 75% of votes cast are in favour of a motion to do so. If this 75% is not reached then the Events and Equipment confirmed by the ISAF Council in May 2012 will stand.

"The final twist in the tail could be seen at the Annual General Meeting of the ISAF Member National Authorities on 10 November. The members present at the AGM review any Regulations made or amended in any substantive way by the Council since the last Ordinary Meeting which was in November 2011. As defined in the Articles of ISAF, decisions at the General Meeting shall be taken by a simple majority of votes of those present and entitled to vote."

No they need 75% to decide whether or not to revisit the issue ie re-open the vote at the ISAF council meeting. If it is re-opened they will then vote on one the submissions that have been put forth (this would require 50% majority to pass). The windsurfing and kitesurfing committee have supported a submission of joint kites (m/F) and RSX (m/F) and the events committee have supported RSX to replace the kites. There are other submissions also eg male kites and female RSX.

I believe that if the 75% is not reached (and thus there is no re-vote) then the whole thing can again be revisted at the General Assembly of member nations (specific countries) at which time only 51% is required. This is different to the ISAF council where votes are taken on a group basis - grouped by different geographical areas.

This is my understanding of it all.

I have also heard a rumour that the IOC have said that they want kites in but I'm not sure of the veracity of this.

Agree with you Sean, dunno why the red thumbs.

68% of the ISAF commitee voted that they were not happy.
They are not happy because a vote FOR kiting was a vote to throw windsurfing out and they didn't know that.
68% is pretty substantial unrest to have in the peak racing organisation/authority with international clout.
But they needed 75% so really it is irrelevant, we're out and too bad

The whole thing has been disgraceful the IOC want kites in, Branson's $$$$ thrown around and the ISAF wants a bit of that action, btu to get another class in they have to kick one out. If they wanna add kiting so bad, make it an additional class

Rsx in kite out

windsurfing back in, but why ditch the kiteboarding.... makes Isaf look like a bunch of stupid undecided people......

Just run the two events and be done.....

seanhogan said...
windsurfing back in, but why ditch the kiteboarding.... makes Isaf look like a bunch of stupid undecided people......

Just run the two events and be done.....

spot on. its was stupid to play these two against each other in first place.

Totally agree. Hopefully they will realise this for 2020. We fully understand how the kiteboarders feel. Its been a crazy 6 months. Maybe ISAF will get their act together for future decision making. The way this issue was handled was disgraceful.

As far as I remember from being part of 2 Olympic training squads for Athens and Beijing the same applied for all sailing teams. Just because you qualified the country doesn't mean you are automatically sent. Everyone starts a 4 yr campaign knowing this. It was pretty clear then and sure it is now. All classes are required to do this. YA needs results and medals to get $$$ from government. It is debatable as to if a strong class results should carry a lesser performing class. So it's not just as clean cut as get selected and you should go. Look at it like a business as that's the way the government does.

I'm not saying this is totally right. But I don't disagree with it either.

Looks like ISAF, IKA & IWA politics is doing us all over. The original decision to drop windsurfing was bad. Flip flopping the decision is even worse.

Surely there is room for both? They should trial kitesurfing as a demo sport in Rio then decide how to progress, and leave Windsurfing as the established sport that it is.

www.peterskiteboarding.com/2012/11/kitesurfing-replaced-by-windsurfing-at.html

jmetcher said...

AGK said...
Good day for RSX not so for kite racing, lets hope YA and RSX Australia actually start to push juniors towards RSX or we may end up looking silly and not having reps at rio. Let hope we do for sports in Australia in general.

The way to make sure we have reps at Rio is for YA to make a binding commitment to actually send a team. As it stands everyone knows that you can work your guts out for four years, qualify for the games, and then get chopped off at the knees by the bureaucrats if they decide you're not a good enough medal chance. In effect they're saying that every sailor we sent who didn't win a medal was a mistake. That's a slap in the face for the sailors, a huge disincentive for anyone campaigning, and utterly contrary to ethos of the Olympics. And I say "sailors" explicitly, because it's quite clear the same does not apply to other sports.

I totally agree 100%. Or put simply, those that are put in a position to represent the sailors, do everything possible to make sure the sailors that qualify are sent.

He was last seen creeping slowly backwards.

AGK said...
Good day for RSX not so for kite racing, lets hope YA and RSX Australia actually start to push juniors towards RSX or we may end up looking silly and not having reps at rio. Let hope we do for sports in Australia in general.

so true.

there is far more kids kiting and kite racing then you'd see at a RSX or any windsurf racing event.
I once chose to windsurf over kiting and once raced windsurfers.

good luck to them, and i hope they make the most of it, because if theres any sign of a flat spot or lack of interest, the IKA will be in there like vultures.

Bet Neil is happy

any one got an RSX for sale ?

paddymac said...

Peterc150 said...
They should trial kitesurfing as a demo sport in Rio then decide how to progress, and leave Windsurfing as the established sport that it is.

+1

+2

A real slap in the face for enthusiastic kiteboard racers around the world and for professional athletes like Dorian who had no choice but to switch sports. Shame on the ISAF and others involved in wasting their efforts and time, even if the decision is ultimately good for olympic windsurfing (would think that the decision will likely create more animosity between kitesurfers and windsurfers worldwide which in my opinion is not a good thing!)

It would be good if they invite the Kites, to do a demonstration event in Rio. Rio is not a very windy place (like many Olympic venues), to see how it works in practice.