Soling fighting to get back into the Games

Peter Bentley calls for a complete rethink on how the Olympic classes are selected

So you thought it was all over? Not if the Soling class has its way. No less than 14 submissions aimed at overturning the decisions made at last November's ISAF general meeting have been received for the mid-year meetings. Though each is worded differently all are aiming either at restoring the Soling to Olympic status, bringing match racing back to the Games for Athens, or both.
Now I would be the first to admit that the classes currently selected for Athens could be improved upon. I would even go so far as to say that the process by which they were selected was far from perfect. I even quite like the Soling class. It is quite clear that with three past gold medallists in the semi-finals in Sydney it offered some of the tightest and most competitive racing. And yet despite this, I would argue most strongly that the decisions made last November must stand.

In case anyone is wondering if things could change again, a short look at recent history will convince them that it is quite possible. At the November meetings in 1999, a decision was made (and ratified by ISAF Council) that there should be three keelboats at the 2004 Olympic regatta. And one of the first things to happen at the meetings in November 2000? You guessed it - that decision was chucked out.

The ISAF Executive, backed by the secretary general Arve Sundheim, is keen to put a stop to the whole thing before it gains any momentum. In a letter addressed to all ISAF Council Members, dated 13 March, Sundheim notes that according to the ISAF constitution: "Only urgent submissions may be considered and such submissions shall be approved to be placed on the Agenda or otherwise by the Executive Committee." Sundheim goes on to say that The ISAF Executive have discussed the matter and: "It is their strong recommendation that the Council decisions on the events and equipment for 2004 not be further discussed, and the decisions made in November 2000 remain."

In order to avoid a repeat of the disorderly scenes in Edinburgh, ISAF have in an unprecedented move, called for a response from Council before the mid-year meeting. Though a substantial "No" vote before the meeting would make things harder for the pro-Soling lobby you can rest assured that that will not be quite the end of it. And if there is a vote to reopen discussions? It's quite simple; everything is up far grabs and anything could happen. All 11 classes will be up for discussion. Women's match racing will be back on the agenda. In short - chaos.

While the existing 11 classes can be reasonably sure of their position for 2004, it has become quite clear that the procedure for choosing the boats for 2008 must be radically reformed. The unseemly squabbling of the last five years is no way to run the top echelon of our sport. The current Olympic classes spend a huge proportion of their budget on campaigning to stay in the Games while other non-Olympic classes spend equally unaffordable sums on trying to get in. The three-and-a-half-year time scale between the so-called final decision and the Games is not really and adequate time-span.

With no strategic planning for the Olympic classes, long-term decisions by national authorities or even sailors is quite impossible. With no forward view for the senior classes how can anyone make a plan for junior training and the Youth Worlds? The time to look at the classes for 2004 has long passed. Now is the time to start looking forward towards 2008.

Why not put in place a system where a sensible reasoned discussion of the attributes of the 11 boat Olympic fleet, as a whole could be resolved before starting on the individual classes? How about starting by looking at the range of size and weight of the sailors and making sure there is something for everyone. Gender representation must be addressed, as must a range of boats to reflect the diversity of sailing around the world. Cost is an issue. Everything must be balanced by the need for the Olympic fleet to provide a forward-looking view towards the future, not a reflection on the past. Stability must be assured but development must not be stifled. Once a rounded specification for the fleet as a whole is arrived at. I suspect the individual boat would all but select themselves.

Dream on though. You can be sure the Soling and all the other existing Olympic classes will be hard at work to make sure "Their" class remain forever. What a way to run a sport.