Paralympic Sailing Competition ?? Jury Announced

The International Foundation for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) has confirmed the International Jury appointed for the Paralympic Sailing Competition.

The International Jury, whom were appointed with the approval of ISAF, are:

Chair – Paul Withers (GBR)
Michael Mitakis (GRE)
Ahmet Mostar (TUR)
Henry Sleutel (NED)
Li Quanhai (CHN)

The Chair, Paul WITHERS, has been an International Judge since 1994, and has officiated at numerous high profile events, including World and Continental Championships and ISAF Events. Most recently in 2003, he was on the Jury for the Mirror World Championships, Laser 4.7 Worlds, Laser Radial Youth Worlds, Rolex Fastnet Race and International 14 Worlds, to name a few. In addition to the Paralympic Regatta, 2004 will see Paul officiating at the IFDS Single-Person World Championship, IFDS Two-Person Worlds Championship, Laser Worlds and Europeans, 505 Worlds and Rolex Commodore’s Cup.

From the host nation, Michael MITAKIS has been an ISAF official since 2001. A resident of Athens, Michael is an experienced sailor who competed at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain in the keelboat event, contested in the Soling. He has also sailed at international level in the Star, Finn, Lightning and IMS classes, along with the J24 and Laser at national level. As an International Judge, Michael has officiated at a wide variety of events including Mistral World Championship, Laser Radial Youth Worlds, 420 Worlds, Finn Gold Cup and numerous top ISAF Graded events and more recently was on the jury at the 2003 Athens Test Event, 2003 ISAF World Championship in Cadiz and will be on the 49er Worlds taking place in Athens in April 2004.

Ahmet MOSTAR from Turkey is a regular on the International Jury of disabled sailing events, most recently at the 2003 IFDS World Championship in Athens, Greece, and 2002 IFDS Worlds in Holland, both of which were the qualification events for the Paralympic Regatta. An International Judge since 1998, amongst other credits, Ahmet has previously officiated at the 420 World Championship, Europe World Championship, Optimist Championships and ISAF Graded Events to name a few.

Henry SLEUTEL of Holland is another regular on the International Jury at IFDS events, officiating at both the 2002 and 2003 IFDS World Championships. Henry was also on the jury at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, Australia, where sailing made its first appearance as a full medal sport on the Paralympic Programme. In 1996, sailing was a demonstration event. Aside from the many disabled sailing events with which Henry has been involved, past appointments also include the Laser II World Championships, Dart 18 Europeans and other continental Championships.

Quanhai LI from China will be undertaking an Olympic/Paralympic double this Summer, officiating at both the Olympic Sailing Competition and Paralympic Sailing Competition. An International Judge since 1998, Quanhai will be involved in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China and it is a policy of ISAF to involve representatives from the future host country of the Olympic Games on the Olympic Jury. Recent appointments for Quanhai include being on the Jury at the 470 World Championship, Mistral Worlds, Optimist Worlds, Asian Games, together with various continental Championships, and the jury at the 2002 Athens Test Event.

The Paralympic Sailing Competition will take place in Athens, Greece from 18-23 September 2004.