i dont hate the olympics, but they leave a lot to be desired when it comes to their published values and what they actually do. In this case, afforability, 3rd world participation, 50/50 gender split.
You left out GAISF
They are responsible for deciding what sports are are governed by whom.
Kiteboarding lost part of its (autonomy) self governance when World Sailing got involved with IKA GKA WKC. This after a history of self governance from the birth of kiteboarding. World sailing pretty much took kiteboarding to suppliment it's failing/ very low olympic viewership figures where IOC threatened to remove sailing completely.
It seems a legal challenge is on the way
https://www.surfertoday.com/kiteboardin ... t-position
It all comes down to law. My hope is that Kiteboarding can remain self governing, not controlled by another sport in any way. To remove legal threats from sailing towards kitebiarding when a kiter wants to organize their own world championship event in their own discipline.
World sailing voting members generally have no clue about kiteboarding whatsoever when it comes to responsible decision making. They have opened themselves up into a very risky situation. One where they cannot possibly make the responsible decisions on the safety aspects of another sport as they don' have the first clue what they are talking about. So irresponsible. They are more concerned about olympic viewing figures. There latest presentation was about the risks of travelling over 15 knots of speed on water.. go figure.
By kiteboarders, for kiteboarders, accessibility and affordability for youth, 50/50 gender split, grass roots sport development, sport before $, less admin more sport ( world sailing spent $12 million on admin out of a years $24 million budget.. does that seem right?)
IKA hasnt publish equipment sales based on their permitted foilboard equipment list by country, it will need to be split into kites, boards, and foils. These numbers will need to be published and the number of permitted foils sold ( not kites) will uncover the truth no doubt.