2024 World Sailing Elections - Athletes’ Committee

The Committee – previously a Commission but now a Committee under the World Sailing Governance Reforms – is made up of nine members.

In 2024, five new members will replace five retiring members, who have served their eight-year term.

No candidate can be from the same Event or Member National Authority (MNA) as an existing World Sailing Athletes Committee member who will remain a member after the election. Where a World Sailing Athletes Committee candidate has competed in more than one Event, it is the Event at his or her last Olympic or Para Sailing World Championships that counts.

In 2024 the remaining members of the Athletes Committee will be:

• David Hughes (USA) 470
• Pawel Kolodzinski (POL) 49er
• Pavlos Kontides (CYP) ILCA 7

Therefore, no candidate for election can be from the 470 mixed dinghy, 49er men’s skiff or ILCA7 men’s dinghy events nor may they be from USA, Poland or Cyprus.

Four new members will be elected by the Olympic sailors competing in Paris 2024 Olympics.

The five athletes who are stepping down from the Athletes’ Committee as their term comes to an end:

• Jo Aleh (NZL) – Chairperson
• Maayan Davidovich (ISR)
• Mathilde De Kerangat (FRA)
• Heiko Kroger (GER)
• Facundo Olezza (ARG)

World Sailing sincerely thanks them for their dedication to Olympic and Para sailors around the world.

Who can stand for election?

Any Olympian from the current or the immediately preceding Olympics, i.e. Paris 2024 and/or Tokyo 2020, is eligible to be a candidate.

Any Para Sailor from the current or immediately preceding Para Sailing World Championship, i.e. the Hague 2023 and/or Cadiz 2019, is eligible to be a candidate for the Para Sailing representative on the Committee.

Who can vote?

Three of these new members will be elected by the Olympic sailors competing in Paris 2024 Olympics.

One member will be elected by the Para Sailors who competed in the Hague while one further member will be appointed by the World Sailing President, to ensure there is a good balance between regions, genders and events.

Download an application pack

To send an application, click here to download the pack and application form, and return it to the World Sailing Executive Office no later than 30 June 2024 17:00 (UTC). Voting will commence at the beginning of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Click here to download the Para Sailing application form.

About the World Sailing Athletes’ Committee

The role of the World Sailing Athletes’ Committee is to act as the link between active Olympic and Paralympic sailors and the Federation.

In line with the IOC Athletes’ Commission, the term of membership is eight years.

The World Sailing Athletes’ Committee meets annually in person. At its first meeting, after the World Sailing Annual Conference, the World Sailing Athletes’ Committee will elect its Chair and Vice Chair for a four-year term. The Chair of the Committee is a member of the World Sailing Board and a member of the World Sailing Council.

The members of the Athletes’ Committee are expected to represent the interests of all Olympic and Para sailors to World Sailing, and to encourage open communication and feedback from the sailors.