August 21, 2006
21 Aug |
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The Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre is prepared, ready and waiting for the first Olympic Test Event to be held in China. Sailing has received a high profile as a result, and for the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) it is the first opportunity to see the planning and intense preparation come to fruition.
The venue, converted from a dockyard is impressive. David Kellett (AUS), ISAF Vice-President and Technical Delegate for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, commented, ‘I had the privilege of being in Qingdao in 1999,
when China was bidding to host the Olympics, and saw the venue as a dockyard. It is a credit to China and Qindgao that they have achieved their targets. Never before has an Olympic Organizing Committee been so
far advanced in preparing the venue, and we can already see that this will be a magnificent facility.’
Sentiments echoed by many sailors, from whom the response ‘Fantastic’ has been the standard answer when asked their thoughts on the venue.
Whilst some buildings are yet to be completed for use, such as the media centre and the Athletes Village, the main venues are all complete and ready to host an Olympic Sailing Competition. The Athletes Village, which will house all the athletes and team officials, is still being constructed but is due to be completed and operational for the 2007 Test Event. Post-Olympics it will be taken over by a global hotel chain.
With the Practice Race taking place Sunday, Monday will see the start of official racing for eight of the eleven Olympic events. Racing will take place over four race courses, with nine days of scheduled competition and two reserve days. The regatta will follow the format of the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, with a ten race opening series (15 for the 49er), followed by a Medal Race between the top ten competitors. The Medal Race, scheduled for Wednesday 30 August, will be judged on the water and scored at double points, with letter scores counting double points based on the original fleet size.
http://www.2006qdregatta.com
