ISAF have announced that the winning bid to host the 2014 ISAF Sailing World
Championships was made by Santander. Seven citiies were involved in the bidding
process including two from Asia (Pusan, Korea and Quing Dao, China), One from
North America (Kingston, Canada) and 4 from Europe ( Arhuus, Denmark, La
Hague, Netherlands, Gydnia, Poland and Santander, Spain)
All the bids were of an extremely high standard. Each one could have hosted the
championships. The Evaluation panel set up by ISAF to consider the bids certainly
had a tough time reducing the bidders to the last 2 or 3.
The selected championship organisers have a lot of work to do on the venue in Santander. €10m will be invested to provide the most up to date press centre and provide an excellent facility. It is right in the middle of the City with one course being tidal just off the existing marina and sailing club.
Pre event training facilities will be free to athletes as will a limited amount of accommodation.
In addition to the money being invested in the venue, the organzisers are preparing to invest a 6 figure sum in an emerging nations program with a view to having more than 100 nations taking part. If this ambitious plan is to achieve success, a lot of work will have to be done.
“We are very happy because it was a very difficult contest,” Gerardo Pombo, the president of the Spanish Sailing Federation (RFEV), told ABC. “All of the candidates were strong. The ISAF especially liked the Polish and Danish bids, with both countries having staged numerous championships, but the Spanish bid was ultimately rated as the best one.”
Pombo added: “We believe we have done a great job in explaining the project and the World Championships will be a success thanks to the contributions of all stakeholders.”