Sailors from 62 nations will take to the world’s greatest sporting stage this August as they battle on the Yellow Sea at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Sailing Competition.
Confirmation of national places has been received by the International Sailing Federation, along with provisional entry lists detailing competitors across the eleven events. Entries range from multiple medallists to new faces aiming to demonstrate their talent on the world’s greatest sporting stage. Amongst the 62 nations, Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates have entered athletes for the first time.

In total 400 athletes will compete at the sailing venue in Qingdao, including four of the gold medal winning teams from Athens, who return to defend their titles. The British Women’s Keelboat team also features two of the three crew who won the gold medal in 2004, whilst a further three gold medallists from Athens will compete in different events to those in which they triumphed four years ago.

All competing athletes will face the introduction of the new Medal Race format for all 11 events. Following an initial opening series held over five days of racing, the top ten crews will progress to a final Medal Race where point scores are doubled and the 2008 Olympic Champions will be decided.

To see the full entry list, sailor biographies and World Rankings click here.

(Please note the entry list is provisional. The final deadline for National Olympic Committees to summit entry forms is 23 July.)