World Sailing President Quanhai Li meets IOC President Thomas Bach

World Sailing President Quanhai Li meets IOC President Thomas Bach © IOC / Greg Martin

World Sailing President, Quanhai Li, has met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach and IOC Vice President Ser Miang Ng at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland with World Sailing CEO David Graham.

Li reaffirmed World Sailing's warm relationship with the IOC and continued strong support ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. President Li and David Graham presented World Sailing's vision for the sailing event at the Games, taking place in Marseille, focusing on engaging young people, sustainability, gender equity, and the global development of the sport.

President Li said: "We will continue to lead the development of our sport worldwide and, under my presidency, I am determined that World Sailing plays its part in working within the Olympic Movement to address the key challenges and opportunities we face as a family of sports.

"Sustainability is a challenge on which I am proud to say that sailing has taken a leading role through our World Sailing Sustainability Agenda 2030 [PDF], which was published in 2018. With that challenge comes opportunities to contribute to lasting change - not only in sport but to benefit the environment, our oceans and our communities - and I know that is an ambition which is shared by Mr Bach."

As part of a two-week European visit, the President also met with Paris 2024 Organising Committee President, three-time Olympic slalom canoeing gold medal winner, Tony Estanguet, and committee delegates.

President Li said: "Mr Estanguet and the Paris 2024 Organising Committee have made great progress in difficult circumstances and I have made clear that World Sailing is wholeheartedly committed to working with them to ensure the success of the XXXIII Olympiad."

President Li also attended the Italian National Youth Championships in Viareggio and went on to visit the Paris 2024 Olympic Venue with World Sailing Vice President Yann Rocherieux, where he discussed plans with prominent representatives from the city.

The President also had the opportunity to meet with Jean-Luc Denechau, president of Fédération Française de Voile, the French sailing federation, and Francesco Ettore, president of Federazione Italiana Vela, the Italian sailing federation.

The trip also included attendance at stage five of SailGP 2022 in Saint-Tropez, France, in support of one of World Sailing's Special Events which does so much to further the federation's ambitions for the sport.