ISA announce team to compete in pre-Olympic test regatta in China

ISA announce sailors to compete at 2007 Pre-Olympic Regatta, China providing an opportunity for final competitive test of 2008 Olympic Games site.

The ISA today announced eight sailors who will compete at the Pre-Olympic Regatta in Qindao, China from 9th – 24th August 2007.  Two further boat crews have yet to be confirmed. 

Selected to travel to China for the August test event are:

Debbie Hanna: Laser Radial class

Russell & Matt McGovern: 49er class

Gerbil Owens & Phil Lawton: 470 class

Tim Goodbody: Finn class

Maurice O’Connell & Ben Cooke: Star class

“This event is commonly referred to as a test event,” explained James O’Callaghan, ISA High Performance Director. “As it takes place on the 2008 Olympic waters it provides a great opportunity to test the venue under competitive conditions in advance of the actual Games. A 100% dress rehearsal”.

Meanwhile the Laser nomination process has been extended to include the upcoming Holland Regatta and Laser European Championship before a final decision is announced.

ENDS

Boat or Classes that Ireland campaigns in for the Olympic Games:

Laser Radial:: women’s one person dinghy

49er - two person skiff

470 - two person dinghy

Finn – one person heavy weight dinghy

Star – two person men’s keelboat

Laser - men’s one person dinghy

Securing a place at the Olympics

Only a limited number of nation places will ultimately be available for sailing at the actual 2008 Olympic Games and those places have not yet been assigned.

75% of the nation places could be allocated at the conclusion of the upcoming ISAF World Championship (28th June – 13 July), which takes place in Cascais Portugal.

Currently all Irish Olympic campaigners are focused on securing Ireland’s place for the 2008 Games in advance of any final Olympic Team selection.

ISAF World Championship, Cascais, Portugal (28 June – 13 July) www.cascaisworlds2007.com

Holland Regatta, The Netherlands (23 – 27 May 2007) www.hollandregatta.org/2007

Laser European Championship (2-9 june 2007) http://www.laserinternational.org

More on ISA

The Irish Sailing Association (ISA) is the national governing body for sailing & boating in Ireland. As national governing body, the ISA promotes high standards and co-ordinates activities in competitive and leisure sailing in Ireland.

Our Vision is: that sailing and boating is recognised as a lifelong activity of choice for Irish people and one of Ireland’s leading international sports.

Our Mission is: to promote the interests of Irish Sailors

to lead the promotion and development of - “Sailing & Boating – The Lifelong Sport”

http:// www.sailing.ie

For more information contact:

Bernadette Fox

ISA Marketing & Membership Manager

Email: Bernadette@sailing.ie

Phone: +353 (0)1 271 0110 (Direct Line)

Mobile: +353 (0)87 956 9012

http:// www.sailing.ie