Coming a few months before the Tokyo Olympic Games, the Semaine Olympique Francaise in Hyeres was to be the key event for Olympic sailing but it has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
In particular, it was the final regatta for Olympic selection in the Laser class where Ireland is seeking a Tokyo berth.
No replacement regatta for Hyeres has so far been announced as the clock ticks down to the Olympics in July leaving a question mark over what next. As Afloat has previously reported, there are a number of scenarios likely to play out here
For almost a year, the organising committee of the Semaine Olympique Francaise has designed and developed many measures to welcome the elite of Olympic sailing in the safest conditions possible. All scenarios were considered and proposed to the DIGES (France's inter-ministerial delegation for major sporting events), but unfortunately, they have not given their permission and the event will not be able to take place in April.
Several different series had been planned to make the Hyerois event the highlight of the season. The Finn class had planned to award their European title there, the RS: X their World Champion title, and the Laser the last four European quotas for the Olympic Games. This historic event, one of World Sailing's World Cup events, was initially to be held from April 17 to 24, before a new version scheduled over four weeks was proposed to meet the health constraints governing physical distancing between people.
"We made the difficult decision to cancel Hyeres's 2021 Semaine Olympique Francaise following the response from DIGES," Nicolas Henard, President of the FFVoile (France's sailing federation), said. "We studied all the ways we could guarantee an event that would respect health standards and guarantee all the athletes attending watertight health and safety. We hoped that this event, focused on sailors engaged in an Olympic programme, would obtain the necessary agreements, especially after re-planning it over four weeks. But at this point, due to the ongoing health crisis, we cannot hold this event.
The focus of the organising committee is now on the 2022 edition, and with Toulon Provence Mediterranee and World Sailing as partners, they will prepare an exceptional event from April 23 to 30. It will be an international competition even more notable for hosting the new Olympic disciplines for "Paris 2024".
