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Qingdao Declaration on International Sailing Sports

(China Daily Shandong Bureau)
Updated: 2010-08-23 11:04

Qingdao Declaration on International Sailing Sports

(August 22, 2010 Qingdao China)

At the invitation of Qingdao Municipal Government, more than 200 representatives from over 20 countries and regions participated in the 2010 Qingdao International Sailing Week and attended the Olympic Sailing City Mayors & International Sailing Summit Forum from August 21 to 23, 2010. Under the theme of "Dancing Sails, Eternal Blue", we have exchanged in-depth views on the development trend of international sailing sports and reached consensus on strengthening exchanges and cooperation among countries and regions, as well as popularizing and enhancing international sailing sports.

We hold that the success of the Sailing Competitions of Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games has greatly enhanced the popularity and development of China's sailing sports. The development of sailing sports in China, a country with 1.3 billion people, will exert a positive influence over the improvement of sailing sports worldwide. The First Olympic Sailing City Mayors & International Sailing Summit Forum held fruitful discussions and exchanges within the international sailing community, which is of great importance to inheriting the Olympic legacy and enhancing cooperation in sailing sports among countries and regions. We suggest that, under the guidance and with the support of the International Olympic Committee, the International Sailing Federation, the International Association of Disabled Sailing and sailing federations of different continents, and on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, cooperation and win-win development, the Forum be cultivated into a brand name and platform for the exchanges and cooperation of international sailing sports.

We see that, with the impetus of modern Olympic Games, the sailing sports is getting increasingly popular in coastal countries and regions. At present, the sport has reached over 120 countries and regions. Large-scale sailing events such as the American Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race, the World Match Racing Tour and the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race have far-reaching influence around the world and sailing sports has become one of the most passionate and dynamic water sports and a significant bond of international sport cultural exchanges as it enhances cooperation and friendship.

We stress that the future and hope of sailing sports rest on the young people. We call on capable countries and regions to carry out persistently the popularization of sailing knowledge and events for the young people, to improve the planning and infrastructure and to create a better environment by establishing junior sailing clubs, specialized schools and training camps. International sailing organizations should send excellent coaches to the developing countries to improve the skills of their junior sailors, thus raising the overall capability and establishing a talent reservoir for world sailing sports.

We advocate that the competition system of world sailing sports be upgraded through holding successful international events. Asian countries and regions, in particular, should be encouraged to host more international sailing events and emphasize the popularization and promotion of sailing sports. More technical and personnel guidance and support should be provided to Asia to make the continent with 30% of the world's land and 60% of the total population a center of global sailing sports.

We hope that all countries and regions will make concerted efforts to advance coordinated development of sailing with tourism, culture and sports, strengthen cooperation in sailing exhibitions, tourism and manufacturing technology, and increase people-to-people exchanges in science and technology, education and other fields. We hope to bring the young people and sailors closer via diversified sailing activities, thus promoting world peace, unity, friendship and progress, and ushering in a bright future of vigorous sailing sports.