Sailors to have first test on 2024 Olympic waters in 2018
World Sailing has decided to attribute the organisation of the World Cup Series Final 2018 to the city of Marseille, France. Host of the sailing competitions for the Olmpic Games 2024 organised by Paris, the phocean city will welcome the last evenf of the World Cup Series from 3 - 10 June 2018.
The Series is an annual circuit of Olympic sailing for elite and professional sailors, and a key touchpoint for fans and media to connect to the sport of sailing and develop support for athletes on their road to Tokyo 2020 and beyond. Over 2,000 of the world's leading sailors, representing 75 nations, have competed in the World Cup Series since its inception in 2008.
The other events will take place in Miami in January and in Hyères (85km from Marseille) in April.
Nicolas Hénard, President of the Fédération Française de Voile said, "I am really delighted with the decision of World Sailing to award the FFVoile and the city of Marseille the organisation of the 2018 World Cup Final. We will work closely with World Sailing to make sure the event will be a great success and identify Marseille as one of the iconic international sailing venues.
"Once an Olympic venue is announced, sailors are eager to train, race and compete on the waters of the Olympic Sailing Competition," commented World Sailing President Kim Andersen.
"The competition is dependent on the natural environment and sailors have to learn how to read the tidal patterns and wind conditions to best prepare for the Games itself.
Xavier Rohart, strong supporter of the Marseille's candidacy for the 2024 Sailing Olympics, commented: "I'm delighted with World Sailing's decision to host the World Cup Series Final 2018 in Marseille. With the Mistral, sailing is always very challenging in Marseille and I'm convinced that it will showcase the best of what sailing can offer."
The French legend, currently in the last preparations for the Star Sailors League Finals added that: "It is a very good opportunity for sailors to discover the bay of Marseille ahead of the 2024 Olympics and thus I think we will have a very strong fleet competing there in June. No one wants to miss that chance to sail a competition in future Olympic waters."
The 2024 Olympic Games have been designated as a national importance project by French President Emmanuel Macron who used heavily his influence to help Paris and France secure the event's organisation. He also visited the sailing infrastructures in Marseille at the end of September, accompanied by IOC President Thomas Bach and meeting French sailors as Jonathan Lobert, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz and Xavier Rohart.
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