Equipment chosen for sailing events at 2010 Youth Olympics

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has announced the Bic Techno 293 windsurfer and the Byte CII dinghy have been chosen as equipment for the four sailing events at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

The ISAF Executive Committee made the final decision on the equipment for the Youth Olympic Games events, based on the recommendation of the Youth Olympic Games Working Party. The qualification system for the sailing events at the Youth Olympic Games, featuring six continental qualifiers and one World Championship, has also been approved.

Youth Olympic Games Events and Equipment

One person dinghy boys - Byte CII
One person dinghy girls - Byte CII
Windsurfing boys - Bic Techno 293
Windsurfing girls - Bic Techno 293

Alastair FOX, Events Manager at the ISAF Secretariat, said: "ISAF is delighted to announce the Byte CII dinghy and Bic Techno 293 windsurfer as equipment for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. Both are modern and exciting classes which fit in with the IOC's vision of an event to inspire young people to participate in sport. Although the Working Party was very impressed by the high-quality of the bids received, which made their job extremely difficult, their recommendations for the equipment were unanimous."

Around 3,200 young athletes are expected to compete across all the sports on the Olympic programme at the first-ever Youth Olympic Games, to be hosted by Singapore in August 2010. The sailing competition in Singapore will feature 100 hundred young sailors, aged between 15-16 years, competing across four events.

In response to the launch of the equipment bidding process in March 2008, ISAF received bids from ten manufacturers to supply equipment to the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. The bids were thoroughly evaluated by the Youth Olympic Games Working Party, who unanimously recommended the Byte CII as the equipment for the One person dinghy boys and One person dinghy girls events and the Bic Techno 293 as equipment for the Windsurfing boys and Windsurfing girls events.

The selection of the equipment is subject to satisfactory contractual arrangements and final confirmation from the International Olympic Committee.

The Qualification System for the dinghy and windsurfer events will be made up of six continental qualifiers and one world championship. The qualification period will be 1 December 2009 to 31 May 2010. All qualifying events will be run with the approval of ISAF.

In all qualifying events the boys and girls fleets will race together. The equipment will not be supplied free-of-charge at the qualifying events.

The qualifying events for the One Person dinghy boys and One Person dinghy girls events will consist of the 2010 Byte CII World Championships and six continental qualifiers. In the continental qualifiers it has been approved that the equipment can be either the Byte CII or the Laser 4.7.

The qualifying events for the Windsurfing boys and Windsurfing girls events will be the 2010 Bic Techno 293 World Championships and six continental qualifiers in the Bic Techno 293.

The Qualification System is subject to satisfactory contractual arrangements and final confirmation from the International Olympic Committee.

The 2010 Youth Olympic Games is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the passion and excitement of sailing to young people around the world. Over the next two years ISAF is looking forward to working with its Member Nations to promote sailing and the Olympic spirit amongst the youth of our sport.