US SAILING

2000 Paralympic Regatta Background


2000 PARALYMPIC REGATTA BACKGROUND
  Paralympic sailing makes its debut as a full-medal sport in Sydney, in two classes -- the 23' Sonar, a three-person keelboat, and the 2.4 Metre, a single-person keelboat.  Each Sonar team will receive a rating designed to equalize physical abilities among the teams; 2.4 Metre sailors compete as equals without ratings. (At the 1996 Paralympic Games in Lake Lanier, Georgia, sailing -- in Sonars -- served as an exhibition event and attracted 15 countries. All nations, with the exception of host country Australia, must qualify for entry in both classes for the Paralympic Regatta, which is scheduled for October 20-27, 2000, in Sydney, Australia. The qualification process is a result of entry limits set by the International Olympic Committee and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).
QUALIFYING EVENTS
  Paralympic qualifying regattas are the world championships of each class in 1998 and 1999. The remaining entries will be determined by a joint committee of ISAF and the International Foundation for Disabled Sailing.
ENTRY QUOTAS FOR THE 2000 PARALYMPIC REGATTA in Sydney
(number of boats/countries) as confirmed by ISAF
Class Quota Host Qualified National Authorities in order of qualification. The year of qualification precedes the list. (as of 6/99)
Sonar 20 1 1998: USA, NED, GER, CAN, GBR, ISR, SWE
1999: ESP, ARM, IRL, SUI, NOR, DEN, FIN
The remaining four countries will be determined by committee as noted above.
2.4 Metre 25 1 1998: GER, NOR, FIN, ITA, GBR, CAN, NZL
1999: DEN, FRA, SWE, USA, NED, EST, ESP
The remaining nine countries will be determined by committee as noted above.