SAILING/Weekly Column: Olympic selection is not an agenda item at tomorrow's Irish Sailing Association a.g.m. but as the row over the Star keelboat selection procedure for Athens intensifies it may be added to the topics for discussion. The a.g.m. features an "open forum" that is part of the day-long activities at the Riverbank House Hotel, Wexford.
The latest details to come to the surface in the trials affair is that the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) will carry out its own investigation headed by the president, Pat Hickey, following a request made to the OCI by Royal Cork's Mark Mansfield this week over an ISA Board decision to alter selection rules.
In a separate development, Mansfield has instructed solicitors to seek all documentation surrounding the revised selection procedures from the ISA's Dún Laoghaire headquarters for what the triple Olympian says is the first round of a legal challenge to ISA selectors.
At the centre of the row are changes to quite complex selection procedures that could advantage either one of two campaigns; Mansfield and crew Killian Collins or Dublin pairing Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks.
Though the row maybe more about board-room than sailing tactics the fact is that on the water both crews vying for the single Irish place on the Star keelboat start line of the 2004 Olympics have been left in doubt over qualification objectives especially in the planning of regatta calendars. Just who, and how, either crew will get to the Games has resulted in the biggest of all selection procedure spat.
When the row spilled over into the national media last week it led to the entry of Hickey, who wrote to the sailing authority president outlining Olympic Charter Rule 49, that sets out the OCI's duty to ensure selection is "transparent and just". In the letter, the ISA representatives are invited to an early meeting to discuss the issues. Crebbin says the OCI letter has received immediate consideration and the ISA will be happy to meet the OCI.
Last night Mansfield confirmed the OCI had waded in: "Following last week's Irish Times article, where I discovered the OCI were aware of the problem, I made a request that they investigate the Star keelboat selection procedure."
The OCI is seeking to hear the views of all parties concerned including the ISA's Olympic Group whose chairman Anthony O'Leary, along with four others - including your correspondent - resigned over the changes handed down by the ISA Board.
It is not a common occurrence for the OCI to be involved in an individual sport's selection wrangles but, according to Hickey, it occurred in track and field at the Olympics in Sydney and in swimming at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Ultimately the decision on who goes to the Games (and who doesn't) rests with the OCI and as the final arbitrator in this regard Hickey says he wants to hear all the views before making a "clear-cut decision" for sailing.
But the hope now - from all sides - must be that an equitable and fast solution can somehow be found in order to put the sailors first.
The focus must remain on a good result, of which Irish sailing is capable, at Agio Kosmas, Greece, in 17 months.
Meanwhile, the ISA a.g.m. gets under way at 5 p.m. and is preceded tomorrow morning at 10.30 a.m. with a Commodores and Principals Conference.
The line-up includes lectures on promoting children's participation and building club houses before a report on the ISA's strategic plan. All members are welcome.
Under the joint membership scheme for affiliated clubs the association will also seek to pass a resolution that will see subscriptions increase by the cost of living amount each year. They are proposing an increase of approximately 5 per cent to apply from next January.
david@afloat.ie
