Kiteboarding and the Olympics - lets start some creative thinking !
We surely made a huge step forward at this years ISAF annual conference with regards to kiteboardings participation in the 2016 Olympic Games, however at the moment there are only 2 medals available for 4 possible board sport event which up till now only allow for a limited number of choices...
- both parties could fight it out in a policy of non-cooperation, which may succeed in the short term but may well come back and bite one later
- the board sports community comes up with a creative solution and helps ISAF out of the self-created dilemma
ISAF council accepted - probably for the first time - the recommendation of its specialists committee and decided provisionally on a slate of events for the 2016 Olympics.
Following the explanations of the Events Committee as well of the Olympic Commission, listing 2 "Board" events for 2016 could mean either the one or the other - or a combination of both.
While setting two of the most attractive events against each other still doesnt look very wise in respect of the requirements of the International Olympic Committees Programme Commission, it is now up to us to "make a plan".
So what does this actually mean... ?
Windsurfing is about to lose its permanent ticket in the Summer Olympic Games
OR
Kiteboarding is closer than ever to securing an inaugural place in the Olympics.
The first question that we should ask ourselves is wether we should allow ISAF to pitch the two board sports communities against each other, or if we are able to find a solution that allows both sports to keep its integrity while allowing both participation in the Games.
Surely the best thing would be to get ISAF to get another set of medals from the IOC, but as long as that has not happened it is up to us to work on where we want to be not only in 2016, but in the long term.
Kiteboarding is a new and exciting discipline in the world od sailing. ISAF and the IOC have recognized that.
This correspondent can only urge that the ISAF does all in it's power to ensure that both kiteboarding and windsurfing are showcased on the waters of Rio de Janeiro.
