A New Era for World Sailing Carlo Croce World Sailing Presidential Candidacy 01 Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing

“As I look ahead, I am encouraged and optimistic as we enter a new era with confidence and a willingness to be creative.“ A life defined by Sailing

Sailing has had a profound impact Outside of Sailing, I am a Member on my life. I began sailing at a very of the Board of “Istituzione Musei 02 young age, and eventually became del Mare a della Navigazione” -an 03 Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing an Olympic Sailor in 1972 and 1976 institution that administrates several Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing before falling in love with offshore associations in Genoa. I am also racing. I competed, among others, a Board member of the “Galata in the Admiral’s Cup as well as in Museo del Mare” which is one of the Fastnet Race and Giraglia. the most important Sea Museums in Italy. In addition, I am very proud It was natural for me to become to be the Founder of Fondazione involved in the America’s Cup and, Nave Italia which is a charitable in 1987, I was appointed CEO of foundation providing sailing Italia, going on to be involved in experience and contributes to the the 2001 Luna Rossa campaign, and wellbeing of young people with President for the 2004 and 2007 learning and physical problems. Luna Rossa Challenges.

I have been the President of the Yacht Club Italiano since 1987, and I was also a member of the board of the ”Federazione Italiana Vela” and became its President in 2008 – a position I will step down from in October this year.

I was deeply honoured to have been elected President of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) in 2012, and am particularly proud of overseeing a significantly enhanced Emerging Nations Programme, the moves to improve governance, the appointment of a top class Chief Executive in Andy Hunt, the development of a new Sailing World Cup strategy and securing a five year deal with GAZPROM International as a top level World Sailing sponsor. A Vision of optimism, confidence & creativity

It has been an enormous honour In the sport of Sailing, we need also I also believe that World Sailing for me to serve as World Sailing to be responsive to the International should become a powerful voice 04 President. As a sport, we have Olympic Committee’s [IOC] Agenda in driving ocean sustainability, 05 Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing achieved a great deal over the 2020. We are in a changing Olympic and that we use our unique reach Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing last four years and there is real world and working together, and in and influence to lead change momentum across the organization. full consultation with the Sailing and become guardians of the Family, we must be creative, look sea. I passionately believe in this Of course we face new challenges at our events on the Programme important new influencing role for and opportunities and I do have a and embrace innovation. World Sailing – it is the right thing sense of ‘unfinished business’. One And on Para Sailing, for me to do for our sport and we have a of the key reasons I am seeking a returning the sport to the 2024 responsibility to follow this through. final term as President is to ensure Paralympic Games is a key priority. that the challenges that lie ahead As I look ahead, I am encouraged are sailed safely and that the many Looking to our own flagship events, and optimistic as we enter a new era significant opportunities to grow our the new Sailing World Cup strategy with confidence and a willingness to sport, at every level, are secured. has the real potential to boost be creative. our sport’s global profile, increase I now want to see through a period participation and bring new fans It is this vision of growth, of real reform in World Sailing’s to Sailing. This should be done modernisation and innovation, governance in order to modernise in partnership with sponsors and while respecting our sport’s great and become much more efficient broadcasters and we must also traditions, that would underpin and effective as a Federation. be open to the ideas of new host my vision for World Sailing if I am Change is underway and I would cities. We need to look at other granted the great honour to serve a be honoured to help continue that opportunities including Offshore final term as your President. change over the next four years. Sailing, which is an important area Part of my job as World Sailing of our sport and one of genuine President going forward would be untapped potential. If we do to ensure that we not just meet new this correctly, and build the right governance standards, but exceed consensus, it would benefit the them, and become a benchmark whole of Sailing in the years ahead. amongst International Federations. Carlo Croce President, World Sailing. Manifesto Summary

01 02 03 04 05 06 Become a world leader Taking responsibility Embracing innovation Ensure one-design standards Cement Sailing’s place Ensure the return of in sporting governance & leading change to drive global growth in the Olympic Games Para Sailing to the Paralympic Games 06 07 Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing A Manifesto for Growth, Innovation & Responsibility

Become a world leader I also want to ensure that the World in sporting governance Sailing Board is even more attuned 08 I will build on the significant to the needs and views of our sport. 09 Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing progress already achieved, and To achieve this, I want to bring the Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing ensure that World Sailing operates World Sailing Board closer to the with the highest levels of integrity sport, and will ensure: and transparency in everything that it does. I also want to ensure At least one male and one that democratic engagement with • female athlete joins the World the Sailing Family is more flexible Sailing Board and effective, and we can do this by taking the best elements of At least two World Sailing Board governance from the corporate and • meetings are held at a World sporting worlds. Aligned to this, it Sailing Regatta each year will be important that we review the role of World Sailing Committees An increase in Athletes to ensure they meet the new • Commission meetings to Vision, Mission and Values of the quarterly to ensure they have organisation. more regular input into the strategic direction of World Sailing.

“I will ensure that World Sailing operates with the highest levels of integrity and transparency in everything that it does” Taking responsibility & leading change

Become a world leader Taken together, these measures in ocean sustainability can create a step-change in ocean 10 I want to ensure that World Sailing sustainability and I passionately 11 becomes a guardian of the waters believe that the Sailing family has and oceans, that we and our a duty and responsibility to lead by stakeholders do all in our powers to example on this important front. lead change and ensure better care And my ambition for World Sailing of the natural environment we rely on in this critical areas goes further; for our sport. As part of this ambition, in my final term as your president, I will establish a number of World I want to ensure World Sailing: Sailing Sustainability Goals and my ambition is that they include: Establishes a Sailing • Sustainability Commission, Set certification standards for bringing together the leading • venues bidding to host World thinkers and influencers from Sailing sanctioned events, across the globe to help shape including new environmental and inform the World Sailing standards for water quality sustainability strategy

Sustainability training and Defines water environmental • operating protocols for • standards for all its major volunteers, umpires, coaches Regattas and, working closely and athletes and new policies for with the IOC, it will do the waste management same for future Olympic and Youth Olympic Games Host Set new standards in boat design Cities in order to raise water • and manufacturing to reduce environmental standards the environmental impact of boat building, and evaluate new standards for end of life recycling and boat disposal Embracing innovation to drive global growth

A new approach Re-energise Global to presenting Sailing Sailing Development 12 Sailing has a wonderfully unique Our Member National Authorities 13 Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing heritage and traditions that we [MNAs] are central to driving the Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing should all be immensely proud of. growth of Sailing across the world But this does not mean we should and it is crucial that World Sailing avoid embracing change and support them in their development innovation in order to attract new initiatives. participants and fans. It is what other sports are doing and we must That is why I want to continue to do the same – we simply cannot grow the number of countries that and must not stand still. In order to are members of World Sailing from ensure growth in our sport, I want the current level of 144, and put in to: place the following proposals:

Ensure Sailing encourages Increase the number of World • greater youth appeal and • Sailing Approved Training invest more resources into a Centres to ensure there is at World Sailing digital and social least one in every Continent media strategy to help drive fan engagement and develop new Ensure future Olympic Games audiences for the sport • and Youth Olympic Games Host Cities are left with a Continue to review all aspects of sailing legacy for the onward • sports presentation to ensure we development of the sport have products that are exciting and easily understandable to the World Sailing to deliver a public, and truly demonstrate • Continental Regatta in Africa the unique point of difference by 2020 about our sport Continue to invest significantly Evaluate the opportunity to • in the World Sailing Emerging • develop new World Sailing Nations and Paralympic Offshore World Championships Development Programme and and other events that can widen support to include race showcase the latest equipment officials technology & event formats Ensuring one-design standards

The time has now come for World This is why I believe we need to find Sailing and the wider Sailing Family a way of making it absolutely certain 14 to come together and put in place that the rules that govern Olympic 15 Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing measures to combat technical Classes in the modern era are fit for Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing advantage due to onward testing, purpose. Crucially, this also means development and modification of that any rules must be robustly equipment by well-funded nations. verified and guaranteed, and that the boat builders follow very strict To this end, it is critical that we quality controls to ensure rule agree new technical standards compliance and consistency. and boat design rules to ensure athletes are competing fairly and So I want to see improved controls the only thing that separates them to ensure that once a Class is is their skill. classified Olympic, it then becomes a One Design standard and we have a robust system in place to ensure strict compliance at a global level.

“We must ensure athletes are competing fairly and the only thing that separates them is their skill.“ Sailing has a unique role to play in the At the same time, I will work tirelessly Olympic Movement – after all, we are to ensure World Sailing’s share of Cement Sailing’s the only Summer Olympic sport that Olympic revenues also grows and brings together sport, technology and that we move from Category D to C nature in powerful harmony. in the Olympic Games revenue share place in the agreement. The IOC is an important funding resource for World Sailing - It is also vital that the strategic currently, 56% of World Sailing’s direction of World Sailing is closely Olympic Games direct income is derived from the aligned with the IOC’s Agenda 2020 IOC - and I want to see this figure and we are open and receptive come down significantly as we grow to the idea of new, innovative, our wider commercial revenues. And youth orientated Sailing events in with all the measures contained in the Olympic Games. Specifically, this Manifesto, I am very confident I want to ensure that the Offshore we can achieve this. World Championships can act as a showcase for a future endurance event for Sailing in the Olympic Games.

16 17 Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing Ensure the return of Para Sailing to the Paralympic Games

I am passionate in my ambition Consistent participation of to see Para Sailing return to the • more than 32 nations in the Para 18 Paralympic Games in 2024 and that Sailing World Championships 19 Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing our submission to the International Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing Paralympic Committee to achieve Appointing a World Sailing this in 2017 must be powerful, • Para Sailing Manager and robust and compelling. committing additional funding for the Paralympic Development There are a number of things that Programme we are doing, and must continue doing, to help support the case for Continue with the integration Para Sailing’s return, including: • of Para Sailing and able bodied calendars and promotional Reducing Para Sailing Classes opportunities, such as the • from three to two in order to Sailing World Cup make the sport more accessible and cost effective, with a focus Creating a training ‘buddy’ system on one and two person events • for emerging Para Sailing nations to share knowledge and expertise My Pledge

20 Carlo Croce A New Era for World Sailing

This Manifesto builds on what has I am the right person to help partnership with the Sailing family already been achieved in my first lead our sport into a new era - to serve as your President for a “I am confident that the term as World Sailing President, of opportunity, innovation and final term, and I believe that we and I am confident that the respected leadership. have much to look forward to as ambitious ideas I have outlined ambitious ideas I have outlined My Manifesto is one of real vision, we prepare for the next phase of are not only deliverable, they are not only deliverable, they rooted in the opportunities of Sailing’s development. would also herald an exciting new tomorrow, while also having would also herald an exciting era of growth for our organisation an eye on pragmatism and, of and for Sailing. course, our unique heritage. It new era of growth for our is this philosophy that would I very much hope - from all that underpin my second and final organisation and for Sailing.” you have seen of me as President term as World Sailing President. of World Sailing since 2012 - and the measures I have outlined It would be an enormous privilege Carlo Croce in this Manifesto, that you feel for me - working in genuine President, World Sailing.