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The big day is today, at the secretariats of the sailing clubs organising the "Eurolymp" international sailing week, literally overrun by the teams which arrived yesterday evening at the northern end of Lake Garda in and around Riva and Torbole, to take part in the second European leg of the Eurolymp circuit, valid for the Olympic selections for Athens 2004.

This morning the F.I.V. president, Sergio Gaibisso, welcome guests of the united sailing clubs united for the occasion, arrived as President of the Judges and to be present at the opening ceremony to be held this evening on the Terrazza San Pellegrino della Fraglia della Vela Sailing Club, Riva del Garda. The Sydney Olympic silver medallist in the Finn class, Luca Devoti declared: "I want to carry on competing in this class at least as far as the gold in Athens", but here on Lake Garda it's going to be hard fought against the reigning European champion, the Greek Emilios Papathanasiou, the tough Czech, Michael Mair, and the other outsider, the German Michael Fellmann.

Meanwhile, at the Circolo Surf Club Torbole the entire Italian windsurf team has arrived led by the Sydney Olympic gold medallist Alessandra Sensini. The other members of the team include Flavia Tartaglini, Daniel Di Rienzo, Marta Cammarano and Andrea Beverino.

Logistically, the Olympic classes are distributed as follows:

- Circolo Vela Torbole STAR, YNGLING and TORNADO;
- Fraglia Vela Riva EUROPA (W), LASER, FINN, 470 (W/M);
- Circolo Surf Torbole MISTRAL (Windsurf).

As of this morning, the preparatory operations have also begun, while the starting gun of the first races on the water is set for 12.00 tomorrow, 5 March 2002. Two races per day are scheduled for each of the classes with the exception of the extremely rapid 49ers, 15 races are planned for this latest member of the great Olympic family whose debut event was at the recent Sydney Games 2000.