Olympic Games 1996

IYRU Olympic Update

IYRU's Nightly Report from Savannah -- Saturday July 20

Opening Ceremony Starts the Racing

After years of planning and millions of dollars in construction the 1996 Olympic Yachting Regatta is set to begin. Tonight's Opening Ceremony is sold out with over 7000 persons in attendence, not counting the 454 sailors and many coaches, National Authority and IYRU personnel in attendence.

The ceremony will begin at 8 PM local time with the athletes parading down historic River Street. Savannah will be the only venue holding its very own Opening Ceremony and will be attended by IOC President, His Excellency Juan Antonio Samaranch, ACOG President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr William Porter "billy" Payne, President of the governing body for sailing (IYRU) Mr Paul Henderson and the Mayor of Savannah Mr. Floyd Adams.

There will be a fireworks display, hot air balloons will be flown over the venue and the Olympic Rings will be lit across the Savannah River. Trisha Yearwood will be in concert following the Opening Ceremony.

We will have the text of some (hopefully all) of the speeches up in tomorrow's Morning Report at 11 AM local time.

Other goings on today:

Only three sailors were out on the race course today, as most sailors took the day off. Many returned early this morning from the opening ceremony in Atlanta last night and chose to sleep and rest today. Quiet day at the Olympic Marina today, and the Day Marina was virtually deserted.

The US Soling was passed for measurement, but the Danish boat did not. See NEWS for information, and see our Measurement Report section below for more information.

Feature Section:

Measurement at the Olympics

Interviews:

Interview with Larry Abbot, builder of the US Soling

Jim Young, Head Coach for Switzerland, the first in our series of 'Coaches Picks'

Book Excerpt

What is a Race?

IYRU Olympic Update