Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Second Athens Olympic sailing regatta, first since 1896 cancellation.
Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held from 14 to 28 August 2004 at the Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre, located 14 km south of Athens city centre near the coast of Southern Attica. This marked the second time Athens hosted Olympic sailing competitions, the first being in 1896, though that event was cancelled primarily due to lack of suitable boats and poor weather conditions. The 2004 regatta featured eleven disciplines divided over nine sailing classes, with races conducted in Fleetrace and Matchrace formats on various Olympic course areas.
Quick Facts
- Event
- Sailing
- Games
- 2004 Summer
- Venues
- Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre
- Dates
- First race: · 2004 · 08 · 14 / Last race: · 2004 · 08 · 28
- Competitors
- 400 (261 male, 139 female)
- Teams
- 268
- Team Descriptor
- Boats
- Nations
- 61
- Prev
- 2000
- Next
- 2008
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The sailing program at the 2004 Summer Olympics consisted of eleven disciplines divided over nine sailing classes. Multiple races were scheduled for each discipline between 14 and 28 August 2004 along the coast near Athens. The event was executed on several types of Olympic courses in different course areas using the 'Fleetrace' and 'Matchrace' formats. Australia, France, Italy, Great Britain, Greece, Spain and the USA each fielded teams of sailors across all classes, though not all fielded a full team of eighteen; for example, the USA fielded 16 and Australia fielded 17.
Reader's Guide
The 2004 Olympic sailing regatta was significant as it returned to Athens, where the first modern Olympic sailing competition had been scheduled in 1896 but was cancelled due to heavy storms. This time, weather conditions were good, allowing the full program to proceed. The Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre, completed on 31 January 2004, was a complete reconstruction of a harbor built in the 1960s. On clear days, the Acropolis could be seen from the course areas. Sixty-one countries competed, making it a broadly international event. The inclusion of both Fleetrace and Matchrace formats demonstrated the diversity of competitive sailing within the Olympic framework. The event underscored the IOC's flexibility in venue selection for sailing, as exceptions to the rule of holding contests in or near the host city are permitted for this sport.
Did You Know?
- Sailing has been part of the Olympic programme since the 1896 Olympics, with the exception of 1904 and possibly the canceled 1916 Summer Olympics.
- The Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre was completed on 31 January 2004, reconstructed from a harbor built in the 1960s.
More in Sailing at the Summer Olympics 1-24
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