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The full sailing programme for the 2024 Paris Olympics has been confirmed with news kiteboarding will be split into men's and women's competitions to replace the mixed offshore event.
The IOC confirmed the move at a meeting of their executive board overnight (NZ time).
They previously identified issues with the mixed offshore event around field of play security, scope and complexity, broadcast cost and complexity and the fact World Sailing had not staged an offshore world championships.
The IOC asked World Sailing to put forward alternative event proposals for sailing's 10th medal at the Paris Olympics and the World Sailing council approved men's and women's kiteboarding (formula kite) and men's and women's two-person dinghy (470) as the first and second alternatives.
Kiteboarding had previously been set down for a mixed teams relay but medals will now be handed out for both a men's and women's competition.
"We now know what the short-term solution is for Paris," Yachting New Zealand high performance director Ian Stewart said.
"All along we wanted to maintain classes for a heavier male and lighter female. We were disappointed with the loss of the Finn [after the Tokyo Olympics] and thought the double-handed offshore event would have given opportunities for a wide cross-section of sailors."
