Asia wants windsurfing reinstated
04:45 AM Jul 03, 2012
Source Todayonline.com
http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/EDC120703-0000022/Asia-wants-windsurfing-reinstated
At an Asian Sailing Federation (ASAF) meeting here last Saturday, member nations reached a unanimous decision to call for a re-vote by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) at its next meeting in Ireland this November to re-instate windsurfing as a medal event for the Rio Games.
"We're now finding out the process to present a strong case for windsurfing to ISAF," said SingaporeSailing CEO Tan Wearn Haw.
"There has been talk the International Olympic Committee may drop sailing from the Olympics because it is not the most spectator-friendly sport, so for ISAF to drop one of sailing's more popular disciplines is surprising."
Thirty-four delegates representing 17 member nations attended Saturday's meeting at ONE15 Marina.
In a shock decision at the ISAF mid-year meeting in Italy, windsurfing was axed from the 2016 Olympics and replaced with kiteboarding.
However, Israel sailing chief Yehuda Maayan claimed the shock result came after a Spanish delegate made a wrong vote during the meeting, possibly due to confusion and the language barrier.
Singaporean Audrey Yong's bronze at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games helped promote interest in the sport here.
Timothy Khoo, president of Windsurfing Association Singapore - an affiliate of SingaporeSailing - said: "The decision to drop windsurfing was a devastating blow and there are concerns interest could dwindle as it is no longer an Olympic sport.
"It is a wake-up call for windsurfing to keep re-inventing ourselves to stay relevant." TAN YO-HINN
