Issue date
Two-time Olympic medallist Jo Aleh pointed to the opportunities young sailors have today after being elected chair of World Sailing's athletes' commission.
Aleh replaces Yann Rocherieux from France following his resignation as chair after he was elected as a World Sailing vice-president at the recent 2020 general assembly. Athens 2004 gold and Beijing 2008 bronze medallist Sofia Bekatorou from Greece has been elected as vice-chair.
The athletes' commission reports directly to the World Sailing board of directors with the chair a permanent voting member of the board. The commission represent the interests of sailors in the Olympic and Para events and is elected by the athletes themselves.
The athletes' commission also elect members to sit on events, equipment and race officials committees as well as receiving invites to working parties considering Olympic and Para sailing matters, and selection of world championships venues.
"I have been involved in World Sailing for the last four years and I am looking forward to taking on the role as the athletes' commission chair," said Aleh, who coaches New Zealand's top Nacra 17 sailors. "Young sailors today have opportunities in our sport that many of us only ever dreamed about.
"The athletes' commission will always ensure that the sailors voices are represented and on the table."
Aleh's appointment was one of a number of changes at World Sailing and Yachting New Zealand would like to congratulate the new World Sailing president, Quanhai Li, and the new members of the World Sailing board.
We'd also like to thank Jan Dawson, who has lobbied and advocated on behalf of Yachting in New Zealand and Area L on various World Sailing committees, the council and as a vice president over the past 12 years.
The election of officers results were uploaded to the World Sailing website and are available HERE.
Every meeting that was open throughout the 2020 annual conference is available on the World Sailing YouTube channel HERE and a final news report from the council meeting is HERE.
World Sailing had over 3000 logins across the sessions, with delegates calling in from more than 100 countries and over 300 cities and towns. Viewership and engagement was outstanding.
Sailing Club Sustainability Resources
World Sailing chief executive David Graham announced the launch of the Sailing Club Sustainability Resources during his report to council.
Further information is HERE and Dan Reading, head of sustainability, can be contacted via Dan.Reading@sailing.org.
- Pic: Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie claimed silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics to go with the gold they won four years earlier in London. Photo: Sailing Energy / World Sailing.
