Sustainability at the heart of the Annual Conference as President Carlo Croce welcomes delegates

World Sailing President Carlo Croce has officially opened the 2016 Annual Conference being held out of the Renaissance Fira Hotel in Barcelona, Spain.

Over 900 delegates have registered to attend the Annual Conference which is the central meeting point where the strategy of sailing is reviewed, discussed and celebrated. This year, the overarching theme of ‘Our Sustainable Future’ is providing the foundation to spark debate and conversation around the future of the sport as well as sustainability in the waters of the world.
 
President Croce put sustainability at the heart of his opening welcome to delegates in attendance saying, “For the first time, our Annual Conference has a theme to help guide debate, discussion and thinking. This will be the compass that will steer us, not just for the coming week but also over a much longer term.
 
“As a sport that is so close to nature, we all have a responsibility to do everything we can to become a powerful voice for ocean sustainability. And sustainability is not just about environmental concerns, although, of course, these are critical issues.
 
“Sustainability also links to other key areas of our sport, such as our events, how we secure sailing’s commercial future and how we ensure more nations and more young people are drawn into our wonderful sport.”

WATCH the Opening Session back on World Sailing’s YouTube Channel
URL – https://youtu.be/FPRbflbO4kQ

 
General Secretary for the Sport in Catalania, Gerard Figueras and President of the Real Federacion Espanola de Vela, Julia Casanueva welcomed the delegates to the city and President Croce presented the pair with gifts on behalf of World Sailing.
 
As part of the theme of the 2016 Annual Conference, three Forums on Sustainability, Para World Sailing and the Commercial Strategy for the sport will be mixed in with a full schedule of Committee, Sub-committee and Commission meetings.
 
The Sustainability Strategy will commence at 14:30 local time and run through to 18:00 and will be available on World Sailing’s YouTube Channel here – https://youtu.be/xIzvmfzF9MI

Information on how to follow the 2016 Annual Conference is available below:
 
LIVE BLOG
 
World Sailing’s LIVE Annual Conference Blog will report directly from the meeting rooms for the duration of the event. The blog can be found here – http://www.sailing.org/media/2016-annual-conference-blog.php.
 
GET INVOLVED ON SOCIAL MEDIA
 
Followers are encouraged to get involved with the 2016 Annual Conference by using the official hashtag #OurSustainableFuture across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The best posts will be aggregated on the Annual Conference Social Wall which will be on display at the conference venue, the Renaissance Fira Hotel, and online here – www.sailing.org/media/2016-annual-conference-social-wall.php 
 
Follow World Sailing on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ISAFWorldSailing
Instagram – https://instagram.com/isafworldsailing/
Twitter – @worldsailing
Snapchat – Follow our Story on Snapchat, search for worldsailing
 
LIVE VIDEO STREAMS
 
World Sailing’s YouTube Channel will be broadcasting live from the 2016 Annual Conference. The Opening Address, Forums on Sustainability, Para World Sailing, the meeting of Council and the General Assembly will all be streamed live. The feeds are available here – https://www.youtube.com/user/isafchannel/videos?shelf_id=11&live_view=502&sort=dd&view=2
 
NEWS UPDATES
 
World Sailing will be posting daily recaps on sailing.org throughout the Annual Conference. In addition, a number of press releases touching on the hot topics of discussion as well as special announcements will be issued across the week.

By Daniel Smith – World Sailing
 
World Sailing 2016 Annual Conference Partners

The World Sailing 2016 Annual Conference is supported by:

• FAREAST Yachts – http://www.fareastboats.com/en/home
• Bart’s Bash – http://www.bartsbash.com/
• GAC Pindar – http://www.gac.com/gac-pindar/
• Zhik – https://www.zhik.com/
• Mexico – http://www.rivieranayarit.com/
• Sarasota – http://sports.visitsarasota.org/

About World Sailing’s Annual Conference
 
World Sailing’s Annual Conference brings together up to 700 delegates every first full week of November. It is the central meeting point where the strategy of sailing is reviewed, discussed and celebrated.
 
Over the Annual Conference, participants plan for the future, make key decisions to drive the sport forward, share best practice and generate new ideas.
 
The 2016 Annual Conference will be held in Barcelona, Spain at the Hotel Renaissance Barcelona Fira from 5-13 November.

About the General Assembly
 
The General Assembly of World Sailing takes places every four years. It is on this occasion that the World Sailing Board of Directors (President and Vice-Presidents) and members of the World Sailing Council automatically retire.
 
All full World Sailing Member National Authorities (MNAs) are entitled to be represented at the General Assembly and to vote for the new President and the seven Vice-Presidents.
 
MNAs can nominate members for the World Sailing Board of Directors, Council, Committees, Sub-Committees and Commissions.
 
The next World Sailing General Assembly will take place on Sunday 13 November 2016 from 09:30 – 13:30.