Gdynia in Poland is expected to step in and host the 2019 Youth Sailing World Championships ©World Sailing

Gdynia in Poland has been selected to host the 2019 Youth Sailing World Championships over rival bids from China and The Netherlands, it has been announced today.

Action will take place on the Marina Gdynia, a venue close to the city centre which offers excellent sailing and recreational facilities.

Gdynia is a dynamic, modern city with experience in running large scale events.

It has hosted a number of international regattas in recent years, including the 2004 edition of the Youth Worlds, 470 and Laser European Championships as well as Volvo Gdynia Sailing Days, attracting thousands of participants and spectators.

The event is expected to be organised by the Polish Yachting Association and the City of Gdynia, taking place from July 13 to 20 in three years time.

It overcame rival proposals Lelystad in The Netherlands and Shanghai in China.

"With experience of hosting high calibre sailing events, Gdynia is a perfect fit to hold the 2019 edition of the sports premier event for young sailors," said World Sailing Events Manager, Alistair Dickson,

"Excellent on-shore facilities in a great location coupled with a good breeze in July will ensure the delivery of a fantastic all-round championship.

"World Sailing look forward to working with the Polish Yachting Association and the City of Gdynia.”

Poland was chosen just days after Oman relinquished its hosting rights for the 2016 Youth World Championships - with speculation it following the introductiion of new discrimination rules ©Getty Images
Poland was chosen just days after Oman relinquished its hosting rights for the 2016 Youth World Championships - with speculation it following the introductiion of new discrimination rules ©Getty Images

No contract has yet been signed, with the selection of Gdynia also subject to a successful site visit.

It comes after the withdrawal of Oman as host for the 2016 Championships last month, with speculation suggesting this was because the country could not meet new criteria designed to prevent discrimination.

This followed controversy at last year's event in Malaysia when Israeli windsurfers Yoav Omer and Noy Drihan were unable to compete in Langkwai.

The country withdrew from the event in the Islamic nation after a crackdown which included the refusal of visas and a demand that they could not compete under their flag.

They also claimed to have been banned from displaying any Israeli symbol or logo on their surfboards or clothes, while it was said their national anthem would not be played in the event of a gold medal.

World Sailing condemned the events as "unacceptable" and introduced new rules which obliged host countries to guarantee that all competitors from all countries could compete equally.