(ATR) World Sailing tells Around the Rings they were surprised to read outgoing chief executive Peter Sowrey’s comments detailing plans to move sailing from Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro.
Sowrey left the position of chief executive for World Sailing in December, less than six months after taking the position. World Sailing maintains Sowrey and the federation mutually parted ways.
Speaking to the AP on Jan. 26, Sowrey said that he departed the position by being voted out by the international federation after he pushed hard to move the sailing venue to Buzios, 100 miles east of Rio de Janeiro. Sowrey said to the AP that he was told to "to gag myself on the subject," despite having prepared a 20-page prepared plan detailing the feasibility of a change in venue.
World Sailing maintains that no preparation to consider a secondary sailing venue was ever prepared by Sowrey.
"Under the guidance of Chief Executive Officer at the time, Peter Sowrey, the President wrote back on 3 August 2015 with the following statement, 'As you know the venue for the Sailing event of the 2016 Olympic Games was evaluated and approved some years ago. There are no plans currently to consider other venues," World Sailing said to ATR in a statement.
"World Sailing continues to work in close partnership with the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee and the International Olympic Committee to ensure that the venue is suitable to provide an outstanding Olympic Sailing Competition."
The Buzios-based group "Vela em Buzios"began a push to lobby the IOC, Rio 2016, and World Sailing to reconsider moving sailing outside of Guanabara Bay in July. The group said Buzios offered better guaranteed sailing conditions, and that the town needed only six months to prepare to host Olympians. ATR contacted the group for comment on the backup plan crafted with Sowrey, but did not receive a response.
Recently hired chief executive Andy Hunt will visit Rio on Feb. 10-15 to assess the current situation in Guanabara Bay and see how cleanup of the bay can be accelerated in the final 200 days until the Olympics. A new treatment plant is being constructed in the Marina da Gloria and will be operational ahead of the Games.
Concerns remain about the potential for racing to be impacted by pollution in the bay and the potential remains for athletes to fall ill from competing in Rio. Athletes in sailing and rowing test events have reported illnesses after contact with the water, but Rio 2016 and the international federations say no causal relationship has been proved.
"We’ve been through two test events now and we didn’t see anything that caused any concern during the course areas," Alastair Fox, World Sailing head of competitions, told ATR in December.
Sailing officials have repeatedly refused suggestions that the sport would be better served by moving the sailing venue outside of the city, citing proximity to the Games and the spectacular views Guanabara Bay will offer to broadcasters.
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
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