ISAF PRESS RELEASE
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INTERNATIONAL SAILING FEDERATION (ISAF) INVITES NOMINATIONS 
FOR ISAF ATHLETES' COMMISSION MEMBERS

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is inviting athletes to nominate 
candidates to represent their Olympic event on the ISAF Athletes' Commission. 

The ISAF Athletes' Commission represents the interests of the sailors in the 
Olympic events and reports directly to the ISAF Executive Committee. The Athletes' 
Commission is composed of athletes representing each Olympic event (one athlete 
representing each event), and is elected by the athletes themselves. 

The elections for the members of the 2009-2013 Athletes' Commission will 
take place online via the ISAF website www.sailing.org from 25-31 May 2009, 
concurrently with the Delta Lloyd Regatta, event five of the ISAF Sailing World Cup. 
ISAF is now inviting athletes to nominate candidates to represent their Olympic event 
on the ISAF Athletes' Commission. The final date for candidates to put their name 
forward is 20 May 2009. 

Alastair Fox, ISAF Events Manager, said, "The Athletes' Commission has already 
established itself as a key voice within ISAF and its decision-making process. The work of 
Commission has been invaluable, not just in the build up to and during the ISAF Annual 
Conference, but by providing a direct link to the sailors in other areas of ISAF's day-to-day 
operation including the ISAF Sailing World Cup Management Group. We are encouraging all 
athletes to consider putting themselves or others forwards for this important role."

Candidates can be nominated in each of the 10 sailing events selected for the 
2012 London Olympic Games:

Equipment - Event 

RS:X - Men's Windsurfer
RS:X - Women's Windsurfer 
Laser - Men's One Person Dinghy
Laser Radial - Women's One Person Dinghy
Finn - Men's One Person Dinghy Heavy
470 - Men's Two Person Dinghy
470 - Women's Two Person Dinghy
49er - Men's Two Person Dinghy High Performance
Star - Men's Keelboat
Elliott 6m - Women's Keelboat Match Racing 

More details on who is eligible to stand for election, who can nominate and 
vote for candidates, and how to make a nomination is detailed below. 

I. Eligibility

To be eligible to serve on the ISAF Athletes' Commission, athletes must have 
participated in the Olympic Games or be 'actively campaigning for the Olympic Games'. 
Athletes must also be classified as an ISAF Sailor, be a member in good standing of 
the class association of their event and of their Member National Authority (MNA) 
and hold an ISAF World Ranking.

The athletes elected will serve a four-year term to align with the Olympic quadrennial. 
An athlete may serve as the ISAF Athletes' Commission representative for a maximum of 
two terms. Athletes nominated cannot be an officer or paid employee of their MNA 
and/or Class Association and simultaneously serve on the ISAF Athletes' Commission.

II. Nominations

Any ISAF Sailor may propose a candidate from their Olympic event. Athletes may 
also nominate themselves. Only athletes ranked on the ISAF World Rankings may nominate 
an athlete for their event or nominate themselves. All nominations must be accepted by 
the nominee and seconded prior to the actual voting. Nominees who do not accept their 
nomination or fail to gain a seconder shall not be included on the final ballot for voting.
All nominations must be completed and submitted to ISAF via the Athletes' Commission 
Nomination Form available via the link below. All nominations must be received 
by Wednesday 20 May 2009.

Access the Athletes' Commission Nomination Form at www.sailing.org/athletes.  

III. Voting

Voting will take place online via the ISAF website from 25-31 May, concurrent 
with the Delta Lloyd Regatta, event five of the ISAF Sailing World Cup. Only 
athletes who are 'actively campaigning for the Olympic Games' and ranked on the 
ISAF World Rankings will be entitled to vote for candidates in the Olympic event in 
which they are campaigning. The voting methods and voting timeframes will be clearly 
published by ISAF.

ISAF encourages all athletes to consider putting themselves or others forwards for 
this important role.

About The ISAF Athletes' Commission

The role of the ISAF Athletes' Commission is to act as the link between active 
Olympic sailors and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). 

ISAF organizes one meeting each year, which is held at the ISAF Secretariat, 
usually in late September or early October. ISAF covers travel, accommodation 
and sustenance for this meeting, which is usually held over two days during a 
weekend. Other meetings are co-ordinated by the Athletes' Commission at ISAF 
Graded events.

The members of the Athletes' Commission are expected to represent the interests of 
Olympic sailors to ISAF, and to encourage open communication and feedback from the sailors.


Links

ISAF Athletes' Commission microsite
www.sailing.org/athletes