ISAF Brings Back Windsurfing for Rio 2016 Olympics

Windsurfing is back on the Olympics schedule after the International Sailing Federation decided to retain the discipline for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The plan had been to ditch the discipline for Rio and replace it with kiteboarding, but the ISAF has opted to overturn their previous decision.

The Royal Yachting Association have been among those campaigning for windsurfing, and RYA performance director John Derbyshire said: “This is what the membership of the RYA asked for – we have a very strong youth pathway and some 10,000 windsurfing members of the RYA, so on their behalf we are delighted with the decision.

“We obviously have great compassion towards the kiteboarding community, with whom we have been working very closely, and I am sure that they will continue to work very closely with both the RYA and ISAF families with a view to gaining inclusion for the discipline in future Olympic Games.

“We can now look forward to preparing for Rio 2016 with the clarity that this decision brings.”

Also ISAF announced Carlo Croce of Italy as their President.The President chairs the Council which consists of seven Vice-Presidents, the Treasurer (non-voting) who is yet to be confirmed, 28 representatives of ISAF Member National Authorities (MNAs) and one representative each from the the athletes’ commission, ISAF Classes, Offshore sailing and Women’s sailing. Britain’s Chris Atkins was elected as one of the Vice-Presidents. Representatives for Group A – United Kingdom and Ireland are Dick Batt (GBR) and John Crebbin (IRL).