(From the ISAF web site: www.sailing.org)

The nomination deadline for candidates to represent their Olympic event on the ISAF Athletes’ Commission has been extended until Sunday 31 May 2009.

The ISAF Athletes’ Commission represents the interests of the sailors in the Olympic events and reports directly to the ISAF Executive Committee. The Athletes’ Commission is composed of athletes representing each Olympic event (one athlete representing each event), and is elected by the athletes themselves.

The elections for the members of the 2009-2013 Athletes’ Commission will take place online via the ISAF website www.sailing.org at the start of June. ISAF is now inviting athletes to nominate candidates to represent their Olympic event on the ISAF Athletes’ Commission. The final date for candidates to put their name forward has been extended until Sunday 31 May 2009.

Alastair FOX, ISAF Events Manager, said, “We have decided to extend the nomination deadline because of a disappointing response to date. The Athletes’ Commission reports directly to the ISAF Executive Committee and is a fantastic opportunity for sailors to be directly represented with ISAF and ISAF’s decision-making. We strongly encourage sailors, MNAs and classes to encourage candidates to come forward for this important role.”

Nomination

Access the Athletes’ Commission Nomination Form at www.sailing.org/athletes.

Candidates can be nominated in each of the 10 sailing events selected for the 2012 London Olympic Games:

Equipment – Event

RS:X – Men’s Windsurfer
RS:X – Women’s Windsurfer
Laser – Men’s One Person Dinghy
Laser Radial – Women’s One Person Dinghy
Finn – Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy
470 – Men’s Two Person Dinghy
470 – Women’s Two Person Dinghy
49er – Men’s Two Person Dinghy High Performance
Star – Men’s Keelboat
Elliott 6m – Women’s Keelboat Match Racing

More details on who is eligible to stand for election, who can nominate and vote for candidates, and how to make a nomination is detailed below.

I. Eligibility

To be eligible to serve on the ISAF Athletes’ Commission, athletes must have participated in the Olympic Games or be ’actively campaigning for the Olympic Games’. Athletes must also be classified as an ISAF Sailor, be a member in good standing of the class association of their event and of their Member National Authority (MNA) and hold an ISAF World Ranking.

The athletes elected will serve a four-year term to align with the Olympic quadrennial. An athlete may serve as the ISAF Athletes’ Commission representative for a maximum of two terms. Athletes nominated cannot be an officer or paid employee of their MNA and/or Class Association and simultaneously serve on the ISAF Athletes’ Commission.

II. Nominations

Any ISAF Sailor may propose a candidate from their Olympic event. Athletes may also nominate themselves. Only athletes ranked on the ISAF World Rankings may nominate an athlete for their event or nominate themselves. All nominations must be accepted by the nominee and seconded prior to the actual voting. Nominees who do not accept their nomination or fail to gain a seconder shall not be included on the final ballot for voting.

All nominations must be completed and submitted to ISAF via the Athletes’ Commission Nomination Form available via the link below. All nominations must be received by Sunday 31 May 2009.

Access the Athletes’ Commission Nomination Form at www.sailing.org/athletes

III. Voting

Voting will take place online via the ISAF website at the start of June. Only athletes who are ’actively campaigning for the Olympic Games’ and ranked on the ISAF World Rankings will be entitled to vote for candidates in the Olympic event in which they are campaigning. The voting methods and voting timeframes will be clearly published by ISAF.

ISAF encourages all athletes to consider putting themselves or others forwards for this important role.

Find out more about the ISAF Athletes’ Commission: ISAF Athletes’ Commission microsite.