In May 2012 the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) decided that windsurfing would not be included in the Rio 2016 Olympics, to be replaced by kiteboarding. The windsurfing body International RS:X Class Association decided to increase the pressure on the ISAF by taking it to court.
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London, England (CNN) -- Windsurfers took to the sea Tuesday for what could be the last time in an Olympic Games if the International Sailing Federation gets its way.
In May 2012 the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) decided that windsurfing -- which made its Olympic debut in 1984 -- would not be included in the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Instead, it is set to be replaced by kiteboarding, a younger and faster sport that is growing in popularity. It was a close vote, but one that went 19-17 in favor of kiteboarding.
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However, the windsurfers are fighting back with legal action and online petitions against the ISAF. The International RS:X Class Association -- the international windsurfing body -- lodged a request at the High Court in London for a judicial review into ISAF's decision, which it calls "perverse and unfair."
"We took legal advice early on and their advice was that we had a good case, and on that basis we decided to go ahead," said Rory Ramsden, the windsurfing body's executive secretary.
The ISAF swiftly issued a statement saying it was "extremely disappointed" that this course of action has been taken and that it "intends to fully defend" its decision to make kiteboarding an Olympic class, which it says was taken in line with its regulations.
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In May ISAF's President Göran Petersson said the decision marked a "new era for sailing" and that kiteboarding had fulfilled the criteria set out by the organization's evaluation panel.
"Kiteboarding has proven to us that it is ready to be included into the list of prestigious ISAF Events and it is a fantastic addition to the sailing program for the 2016 Olympic Games," he added.
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Few, including the kiteboarders themselves, expected such a result.
Wow, unexpected. That was a big decision and a very sad day for windsurfing.My heart goes out to all the... fb.me/1LdxKidIu
— Nick Dempsey (@nickdempsey1) May 5, 2012
On hearing the news Britain's top windsurfer, Nick Dempsey, tweeted: "Wow, unexpected. That was a big decision and a very sad day for windsurfing."
Dempsey won bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the RS:X class, and silver in Tuesday's Olympic windsurfing final in Weymouth. But at 31 it is also likely to be his last Games.
Bob Ingram, the chair of the UK Windsurfing Association said that ISAF's decision was met by "both anger and sadness" in the windsurfing community.
"We really didn't expect it," he said. "There are a lot of people who have dedicated a lot of their lives to windsurfing and to see it all being pulled from under us is very, very sad."
He added: "You only have to look at the windsurfing going on at the Olympics right now to see that it is a spectacular and a dynamic sport that is media friendly and has a global following."
The International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) said in a statement that it was "shocked" by the decision to take legal action against the ISAF.
The chairman of IKA, Richard Gowers, said: "I think it's a grave mistake. To launch a legal action in the middle of the Olympics is not only damaging to RS:X but also to the sailing world."
Gowers said that he thinks it is "unfortunate that there are only 10 sailing classes available in the Olympics" and that the IKA never wanted kiteboarding to replace windsurfing.
Read more: London 2012 Olympics -- sailing guide
"As an ex-windsurfer myself I would love to see both sports featured in the Olympics. I think board sports should have more of a presence in the Olympics because, at the end of the day, kiteboarding and windsurfing are far more available in developing countries because the entry cost is much less than it is for some of the sailing classes," he added.
The windsurfing lobby argues that kiteboarding lacks a clear pathway from junior to professional level, something that it has worked for years to achieve. Others, like the U.S. Windsurfing blog "saveolympicwindsurfing," argue that kitesurfing simply isn't safe enough at the moment and that "handing a kid a kite is like handing them a loaded gun."
In response to these claims and many others issued by the windsurfing lobby the IKA says it has been forced to issue a document separating fact from fiction about their sport.
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Nick Dempsey from the UK won silver in windsurfing at Weymouth on August 7. The 31-year-old has been very vocal about the decision to drop windsurfing from the Olympic Games.
The windsurfing lobby argues that kiteboarding lacks a clear pathway from junior to professional level, something that windsurfing has worked years to achieve. These teenage girls are competing in the Techno 293 windsurfer class at the Youth Olympics in Singapore.
The windsurfing lobby has raised issues of concern regarding the safety record of kiteboarding, with some arguing that it is not as safe as windsurfing. The International Kiteboarding Association argues that "any sailing sport is dangerous if not taught correctly and that it is all about minimizing the risks."
The current world number one kiteboarding course racer, Johnny Heineken, said he was "super excited" about the prospect of competing in the Olympics. The 23-year-old American grew up sailing and windsurfing in San Francisco Bay and says he has never been injured when kiteboarding.
Since 1984 windsurfing has been the only board sport represented in the summer Olympic Games. But as board sports grow increasingly popular around the world, ISAF and the International Olympic Committee could face increasing pressure to bring more of them into the Olympic fold.
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