Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Update

The Chief Officials appointed for the 2016 Paralympic Sailing Competition have been announced. They are:

Principal Race Officer – John Parrish (NZL)
Chairman of the International Jury – John Doerr (GBR)
Chairman of the Equipment Inspection Committee – John Koopman (USA)
Chief International Classifier – Sue Parry (GBR)

It is anticipated the remaining International Technical Officials will be announced later in the year.

Technical Delegate David Staley (AUS) and Assistant TD Wilfried Klein (GER) have been preparing for the Games since their appointment in November 2013.

Staley was in Rio de Janeiro during May. The visit included a series of site visits and meetings with Rio 2016 staff responsible for a wide range of Games functional areas.

The Marina da Gloria sailing venue is currently a construction site, with major renovations to the existing pavilion and significant landscaping works. Works will be ongoing until early 2016 including the installation of a new floating pontoon system.

The proposed race areas are close to the Marina da Gloria and provide a spectacular backdrop for media and spectators along Flamengo Beach, however the amount of floating material within the waters of Guanabara Bay remains a concern. An additional race area outside the Bay, the Copacabana course, has therefore been added to provide race officials with greater flexibility during the Games. The distance to the Copacabana course area is approximately 3.5 miles. Escola Naval (Navy School) and Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf) are the two course areas that will be used within Guanabara Bay.

Athletes and officials from all sports will be accommodated at the Paralympic Village in Barra de Tijuca. This is a “vertical” village of new high-rise apartments being constructed near the coast to the west of Rio de Janeiro. Travel to and from the Marina is estimated at 52 minutes each way. Some “Games Lanes” will be added to expedite travel. The route is a picturesque one, via the coast and Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana. Rio 2016 are providing a large number of accessible buses to transport athletes and officials between the Games venues.

Plans for an event in Rio ahead of the 2016 Paralympic Sailing Competition, are still to be confirmed. National teams will be advised at the earliest opportunity.