WINDSURFING. 9

2002 windsurfing world championships at Largs

Monday 13 May 2002

The sportscotland lottery fund has announced an award of over £29,000 from the major events programme to the Scottish sailing Institute in Largs to support the 2002 windsurfing world championships, 3-10 August.
"Already I have been corresponding with competitors as far afield as New Zealand, Australia and the Caribbean..."

The championships will include competitions in the Aloha, Formula, Racebaord and Masters disciplines. It will be an open event and is expected to attract at least 200 competitors, including some of the world's best windsurfers. This will ensure that talented but less experienced sailors will gain the opportunity to compete, and young Scottish competitors will have a chance to ride high on home waves. Peter Bird, who is already supported by the sportscotland lottery fund talented athlete programme, will be competing for a world title in the aloha event.

Throughout the week there will be come and try opportunities for those who want to give windsurfing a whirl and qualified coaches will be on hand to give coaching support to competitors.
The Royal Yachting Association Scotland (RYAS), which is the governing body of the Scottish sailing Institute, will run a weekend windsurfing festival to promote 'Team 15' during the championships. This is a UK wide development scheme which encourages windsurfers aged 15 and under to become involved in a network of clubs. 'Team 15' aims to build a UK foundation for world-beating windsurfing performances at world championships and future Olympic Games.

The event is also being supported locally by enterprise Ayrshire, North Ayrshire Council and Ayrshire and Arran tourist board.

Established in 1999, the Scottish sailing Institute was designed to provide Scotland with the resources capable of holding the best european and world sailing events, for all olympic and youth Classes and across all disciplines. As well as providing ashore and afloat facilities for hosting international events, the Institute can provide all of the administrative backup for the management of an event, including marketing to sponsors, arranging accommodation and coordinating the après-sail activities.

Jo Dixon, sailing development officer with the Scottish sailing Institute, said: "The news of funding support from sportscotland has been most welcomed. This will be used to increase the facilities available for the competitors and make it an event they will remember. Already I have been corresponding with competitors as far afield as New Zealand, Australia and the Caribbean so it is a very exciting event to host."

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland, said: "We are delighted to be supporting the 2002 windsurfing world championships this summer. This event will provide a great platform to raise the profile of this exciting sport nationally, bring top competitors to Scotland and show off our excellent facilities.

"sportscotland is always keen to support events which will give our local talent the opportunity to compete against the best at home and it is great to see the Sailing Institute hosting events of this calibre."

* Eligible events under this Programme are of World, European or Commonwealth standard and must be part of the international sporting calendar.
* Those eligible to apply for funding are governing bodies of sport and local authorities authorised by the governing body of the sport concerned.
* Projects are assessed according to standard of event, size of event, rating of sport, sports development impact, economic impact, management structure, value for money and financial need.