Postpone the Games!

Qingdao in July is no place for an Olympic sailing event say those returning from the Oppie Worlds

No wind, strong tides, sweltering 35+ degree temperatures, and spring tides that leave the boat parks awash with raw sewage - this is Qingdao, the sailing venue for the 2008 Olympic Games in China.

The Optimists have just held their World Championships there and the reports coming back are that the venue and the conditions experienced are far from ideal for sailing. Five British sailors spent 14 days, a total of 84 hours on the water, in which only seven races were held. On one day in three flights of 70 boats each, 30 boats failed to finish in the first, 40 in the second and 50 the third.

Dr David Gorrod, British team leader for the Optimist Worlds and previously Team GBR's medical officer in Sydney was appalled. "If the Olympics are going to be held at that time of year it is going to be a wash out - there's no wind. They ended up running Mickey Mouse races just under the marina. I can't possibly see how they can run a sailing Olympics there. Locals say there is no wind there in June, July, August and that can extend into May at the beginning and September at the end."

Gorrod added that at present there is no infrastructure for holding a major sailing tournament there. On the sporting side, there is no sailing centre or club, nor any facilities. At a more basic level it was only possible to get western food at the local Holiday Inn. Finding bread was hard, milk impossible, and many members of the Optimist team ended up with stomach trouble. The local hospital, although a modern building, was like a western hospital from 30 years ago inside, although Gorrod said patients were seen instantly and not after a five hour wait.

Although clearly the Chinese have seven years to put the infrastructure in place for the sailing events in the Beijing Olympics, one wonders whether sailing, being held away from the centre of activity in Beijing, will get the support it deserves.

Fortunately matters are in hand and pressure is now being put on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to delay the Beijing Games. ISAF President Paul Henderson has spoken out on this: "ISAF will ask the IOC to consider moving the dates of the Games from the now scheduled end of July proposal to the end of September. Both Tokyo in 1964 and Seoul in 1988 held the Games in September to avoid the monsoon/typhoon season coupled with the intense heat and rain they bring. It is sincerely hoped that the new IOC Executive Board will address this serious problem immediately."

ISAF Events Chairman Jerome Pels has been to Qingdao to evaluate the site. It is understood that ISAF's submission to delay the start of the Olympics until September was made the basis of his findings and the seasonal weather statistics for the venue.

ISAF's representations are unlikely to fall on deaf ears when it comes to the IOC's newly elected President Jacques Rogge who was himself an Olympic Finn sailor once upon a time and who will inevitably play a huge part in any deliberation over a revised date of the Beijing Olympics. But Rogge's standpoint is an awkward one politically. On the one hand sailors will be encouraged that a former sailor is now President and that this can only work in the sport's favour. On the other, this will be a perfect opportunity for Rogge to show that he is above reproach. In recent years the IOC has faced a multitude of charges from corruption and bribery to self-interest and Rogge will certainly want to maintain a squeaky-clean approach.

In addition to the precedent for changing the date of the Olympics, the intense weather conditions will also have an impact on other sports, which should strengthen ISAF's call to the IOC.

Sailing's position within the Olympics is hugely important to the sport. Images of successful athletes competing in our colourful and dynamic sport give impetus for many others to give it a go. It also encourages those already involved to try harder and push for success. No wind, strong tides and a good dose of effluent will do nothing for the quality of those images.

We wait to see what happens...