RYA Council retain right to force another unilateral boycott

RYA Council insists on retaining right to force another unilateral Olympic boycott on their Olympic team

The 1980 British Olympic sailing team – with three other sports – were not allowed to attend the 1980 Olympics in Russia as part of a failed government effort to pressure Russia to pull out of Afghanistan. The Royal Yachting Association unilaterally agreed to support the boycott without consulting the sailors.

The sailors were, however, informed that if they were to attempt break the boycott they would forfeit any future RYA support, including the possibility of selection for subsequent Olympics. Many years and many tens of thousands of pounds invested in training evaporated. Dreams were shattered, and chances of glory disappeared.

The majority of sports did go and those athletes that won gold medals, including Colin Moynihan and Seb Coe, achieved status and career opportunities, often including MBEs.

The 1980 Sailors are running a campaign that sets out to:

1. Secure an end to unilateral boycotts by the RYA Council without a vote of their members, so as to protect future Olympic sailors
2. Persuade the RYA to arrange a suitable and agreed gesture to those that they prevented attending in 1980

After many delays the Team have now received the RYA Council’s formal response. It appears to ignore a Parliamentary Early Day Motion expressing support for the sailors’ campaign and strong requests from numerous members and the public. In it the RYA have declined to give up the opportunity to impose further unilateral boycott(s) on their Olympic squad and rejecting all other suggestions, proposed to invite the team to the Torch Ceremony at Weymouth.

The Team view a vague and unenforceable promise to ‘consult appropriately’ as wholly inadequate protection for future sailors. They consider that Boycotts are likely to be proposed again and that the RYA appears to have no plan - like other teams had even in 1980 - in case such political pressure happens again. They point out that among the many hard-earned experiences snatched from the Team in 1980 was the opportunity to attend the main opening ceremony. Furthermore that in 2008 the RYA promised in writing to invite the 1980 sailors to the Weymouth Olympic Opening Ceremony. The offer of attendance at a Torch Ceremony is no substitute.

The RYA has argued that doing more for team members past and future is beyond their power. The Team feels that their current position demonstrates that they are not willing even to do that which is well within their power. It is for example well within their power to forego unilateral Boycotts...

Quotes:

Gavin Simonds (Soling crew 1980) noted: “The RYA of 1980 behaved appallingly badly towards us all, we were ignored and misled. We had hoped that the RYA of today would want to make an effort to put that right – very soon we are going to find out if this particular leopard has changed its spots.”

Jerry Richards (1980 470 crew) says that: “It appears the RYA keep the right to make the same boycott decision the next time they are under political pressure, but have resolved only to try to handle it in a more courteous manner. How does that match up to their published mission to support sailing? Boycotts destroy most athletes’ hopes and dreams – for life. Imagine a doctor or lawyer not being allowed to take the final exam, always wondering what they might have achieved.”

Colin Simonds remarked: "I spent 10 years campaigning to get to the Olympics – if it needs 10 years again I will find a way to get the right decisions made. We are now considering a range of further options, and are looking for even more public and RYA member support."

We have had many emails of support to us and our campaign email address () of which a selection have already been forwarded to the RYA Chief executive . We welcome more direct to the RYA or to us, and will pass them on. We MUST stop this happening again.

1980 Olympic Team Campaign