The World Sailing (WS) Council approved the introduction of kiteboarding in the Paris 2024 Olympic sailing program.
The sport of kiteboarding should make its Olympic debut in 2024 when the Summer Olympics hit Paris, the capital of France.
The World Sailing Council approved submission M22-18, which includes two windsurfing events, a mixed kiteboarding team event, a new mixed one-person dinghy event, a mixed double-handed dinghy team event, and five events that have already been confirmed.
"We will work closely with World Sailing to ensure that the format reflects the wishes and dreams of the competitive kiteboarders all around the world to showcase hydrofoil kite racing at its best," underlines the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA).
According to IKA, the format should see national teams of men and women collecting points from races or a relay-style race in which male and female riders alternate laps.
World Sailing's Equipment Committee suggested that Olympic kiteboarding should adopt the Formula Kite production model, with four foil kites and one hydrofoil within a four-year registration cycle, in sync with the Olympic Games.
The goal is to have equipment capable of covering wind ranges ranging from six to 40 knots. The Olympic kiteboarding races will take place at Marina de Marseille.
The British Kite Sports Association (BKSA) was one of the first organizations to react.
"We are delighted with the decision to include kiteboarding in the Paris 2024 Olympics. This is a huge and positive step for kiteboarding worldwide," underlines Andy Gratwick, manager of BKSA.
"We look forward to working together with the Royal Yachting Association [RYA] on a performance pathway to ensure future British success in Olympic kiteboarding.”
The upcoming Formula Kite European Championship in Warnemünde, Germany, and the World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, will still feature separate male and female divisions, but IKA plans to introduce the new mixed format in 2019.
Paris 2024 | The 10 Sailing Events
Men's Windsurfer
Women's Windsurfer
Mixed One-Person Dinghy
Mixed Two Person Dinghy
Mixed Kite
Men's One Person Dinghy (Laser)
Women's One Person Dinghy (Laser Radial)
Women's Skiff (49erFX)
Men's Skiff (49er)
Mixed Two Person Multihull (Nacra 17)