Olympic Classes

Just a thought on the marketable televised side of the olympics.  Ive heard points on either side saying it should and shouldnt be dropped, it should and shouldnt be changed.....all because it isnt visually exciting enough.  Im curious, how exciting would people rate the 10,000 metre run (of which the whole exasperating event is dragged out for live on tv). 

Doug

If we take Sailing out of the '3 ringed circus' where does the funding go that the government and national bodies  gives our sport to obtain succesfull results.........  It goes to another sport.

What about the research and development that comes from this funding......  It no longer happens.

What happens to the industries and jobs that are involved in Olympic sailing......  They disapear, some may move to another sport that does get the Olympic funding.

ISAF has already proposeed to have a mutli class (Olympic Class) world championship at the one venue in each 4 year cycle.......  They could extend that to every year or include other International classes.  They also already conduct ISAF Championships and there is nothing stopping them from increasing the number of classes that attennds........  But this will not provide the funding, rate of reasearch and development that the Olympic Games produce.

The Olympics is important for more reasons than because we support it.  It helps support our sport through funding and exposure (little but atleast some), National pride.........  Nothing brings a county together like at the games.

As for TV crews and media exposure......  They should take a good look at the Volvo Champions Series...............  Because it works.

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Get the 2 most exciting Olympic classes (Tornado and 49er), invite the elite sailors, major sponsors, media / TV coverage, cherry picker over the water filming, grand stand on shore for spectators and a bottom mark 40 meters from the shore and the prize money just roles in.

Volvo Champions series curtesy of Tornado guru Roland Gaebler

35.000 Spectators celebrated the first 2004 Volvo Champions Race in Bavaria.

Bundock/Howden win first Tour Stop.

One thing was crystal clear when the first 2004 Volvo Champions Race ended this Sunday in Starnberg, Bavaria: 35000 spectators have seen the biggest sailing festival ever happening at Lake Starnberg. Three days of action-packed racing with rounding marks not more than 40 metres away from the audience at the shores created a unique stadion athmosphere. Said three times Olympic Champion Jochen Schumann who lives around 40 kilometres away from the venue in Penzberg and visited the event. "it's been a great event and perfect advertising for our sport.I really enjoyed being there".

It's been an exciting last day as the fight for podium places was not decided before the last race in the Tornado Class. It were then four times World Champion Darren Bundock and his British crew Will Howden, Tour winners of last year's first Volvo Champions Race Series to start into the new Tour with another win.
Austria's Olympic Champions Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher came second ahead of Sydney's Bronze Medallist Roland Gabler and his crew Gunnar Struckmann.

The tricky conditions on Lake Starnberg offered more stable and stronger winds up to five Beaufort on the last day. Nobody and nothing could stop the young German brothers Pit and Hannes Peckolt to win the 49er event with a clear lead over their fellow country men and reigning European Champions Marcus Baur and Max Groy. Last year's Volvo Champions Race Tour winners Peter and Soren Hansen from Denmark had a great last day with a third and a first thus securing third place overall.

Thomas Hanel, Director of Public Affairs & Events for Volvo Car Germany, said in his final round-up, "already day one has much more than fullfilled our expectations. Saturday and Sunday have been sensational. The audience is enthusiastic about our new race format. I guess we can really claim that there is no more spectator friendly sailing series in Germany at present than the Volvo Champions Race".

That the people really liked the close race action, the 30 world class teams from ten nations and the attractice shore programme with entertaining shows of TV star cook Alfons Schuhbeck, long party nights with life bands and Saturday night's amazing music firework is also underlined by a few impressive numbers from the party tent: Schuhbeck's team served more than 6000 hot meals, 3000 sausages and more than 2500 litres of beer.

The Volvo Champions Race in Starnberg, Bavaria is the first of three Stops of this year's Volvo Champions Race Tour. Following are the Volvo Champions Races in Rostock (2 - 4 July) and Travemunde (24 - 26 September) right after the Olympics.

TA - absolutely right.

Sailing is a fantastic spectator sport when the spectators can see the sport - i.e. close enough to hear the shouting!

What is the obssesion with the Laser radial for light weight sailors? the fact its not suitable is rather highlighted by the fact it needs a diffrent top section.  Whats the solution for the extra weight in the hull?  I've got a better idea how about one of any number of light weights boats with a balanced rig-hull combination.

Just my personnel bugbear as a lightweight sailor.