World Sailing begins programme to focus on quality of Olympic equipment

Member National Authorities (MNAs), Committees, Race Officials, Classes, sailors, coaches, and the wider sailing community are invited to complete a survey. Answers will be anonymous and received in complete confidence.

Jaime Navarro, World Sailing’s Technical and Offshore Director, said, “The perceptions around the quality of Olympic equipment drive the purchase behaviour of athletes who not only seek to replace breakages but also strive to find the best performing equipment. Better quality control can help reduce financial barriers. Reducing the need and use of equipment would also mean a more sustainable sport, and tighter controls on quality will help ensure fairness in the competition.”

With an increased focus on the quality assurance of sailing equipment, World Sailing aims to make the sport more accessible, more sustainable and maintain the integrity of competition at all levels.

The second element of the programme sees the launch of an Equipment Manipulation Hotline which provides a reporting mechanism which is a fundamental provision of the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) considers prohibiting technologies if they are ‘performance-enhancing’ or ‘against the spirit of the sport.’ The Olympic Agenda 2020+5 encourages International Federations to have clear and transparent rules and regulations on technological manipulation and the consequences of their infringement.