Steve Kroop at Flytec <<info>>
writes:

I had heard a rumor that countries were considering sending
Open-Class pilots to compete in Sport Class at the upcoming worlds. Your article
in the Oz Report, http://ozreport.com/17.256#0, seems to confirm this. This really is a
horrible turn of events. Maybe I am wrong but it seems to me the purpose of
Sport Class is to invigorate waning participation in competition by creating a
class of competition for the "non-professional" pilots. Sending well-seasoned,
accomplished pilots to compete in this class for motivations like showing-off a
glider design or padding a trophy case is shameful. It seems like Sport Class is
just starting to gain some traction, participation by very experienced and
accomplished pilots will either ruin the class or change it into something
counter to the class's purpose.

I suspect that problem here is, that in the excitement to get this class going,
CIVL failed to properly define the class, allowing the opportunity for special
and individual interests to usurp the class. This really is a shame and I hope
that Open Class pilots thinking about entering in Sport class will reconsider
and give Sport Class the opportunity to develop into venue for pilots that do
not want to compete at the Open Class level.