Controversy rages over kiteboard vote
Source: Agencies |
May 12, 2012, Saturday
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THE International Sailing Federation's (ISAF) decision to drop windsurfing from the Olympics in favor of kiteboarding likely came about because some delegates didn't realize what they were voting for, Israel's sailing chief said yesterday.
"The delegates were probably confused or didn't understand the motion fully because of language difficulties, or some may have been napping at the presentations and then cast their votes without realizing the implications," Yehuda Maayan said.
Maayan's comments came as the Spanish Sailing Federation admitted it had voted in error.
"The RFEV (federation) made a mistake in the vote between kitesurf and windsurf as an Olympic sport for Rio 2016. Spain supported and supports keeping windsurf (RS:X) in the 2016 Olympic Games," the federation said in a statement.
"Despite all this, at the last moment the Spanish representative in the ISAF Council voted in favour of kite, an error caused by the confusion in the voting system of which the federation president, Gerardo Pombo, takes full responsibility and for which he asks forgiveness from all the Spanish windsurfers."
Windsurfing is one of Israel's most successful Olympic sports, having yielded three out of its seven medals, including its only gold, and a number of Israelis have featured highly at world and European championships over the years.
Maayan, the chairman of the Israel Sailing Association, did not attend the Melbourne meeting where the decision was made but said it was surprising that the professional committee's clear recommendation to keep the RS-X sailboard had been voted down.
"The expert committee vote to retain the RS-X sailboard passed 17-2, but ISAF's broader forum where many delegates do not necessarily have an interest in windsurfing, rejected it 19-17," Maayan said.
The decision prompted jeers from leading athletes, but was hailed by kiteboarders whose discipline will be showcased for the first time at the Rio Games in 2016.
Maayan likened the move to judo competitors being told to abandon their skills and compete as wrestlers.
"The delegates were probably confused or didn't understand the motion fully because of language difficulties, or some may have been napping at the presentations and then cast their votes without realizing the implications," Yehuda Maayan said.
Maayan's comments came as the Spanish Sailing Federation admitted it had voted in error.
"The RFEV (federation) made a mistake in the vote between kitesurf and windsurf as an Olympic sport for Rio 2016. Spain supported and supports keeping windsurf (RS:X) in the 2016 Olympic Games," the federation said in a statement.
"Despite all this, at the last moment the Spanish representative in the ISAF Council voted in favour of kite, an error caused by the confusion in the voting system of which the federation president, Gerardo Pombo, takes full responsibility and for which he asks forgiveness from all the Spanish windsurfers."
Windsurfing is one of Israel's most successful Olympic sports, having yielded three out of its seven medals, including its only gold, and a number of Israelis have featured highly at world and European championships over the years.
Maayan, the chairman of the Israel Sailing Association, did not attend the Melbourne meeting where the decision was made but said it was surprising that the professional committee's clear recommendation to keep the RS-X sailboard had been voted down.
"The expert committee vote to retain the RS-X sailboard passed 17-2, but ISAF's broader forum where many delegates do not necessarily have an interest in windsurfing, rejected it 19-17," Maayan said.
The decision prompted jeers from leading athletes, but was hailed by kiteboarders whose discipline will be showcased for the first time at the Rio Games in 2016.
Maayan likened the move to judo competitors being told to abandon their skills and compete as wrestlers.
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