Handicapping, in sport and games, is the practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the chances of winning. The word also applies to the various methods by which the advantage is calculated. In principle, a more experienced participant is disadvantaged, or a less experienced or capable participant is advantaged, in order to make it possible for the less experienced participant to win whilst maintaining fairness. Handicapping is used in scoring many games and competitive sports, including go, shogi, chess, croquet, golf, bowling, polo, basketball, and track and field events. Handicap races are common in clubs which encourage all levels of participants, such as swimming or in cycling clubs and sailing clubs, or which allow participants with a variety of standards of equipment. Often races, contests or tournaments where this practice is competitively employed are known as Handicaps.
The men's sailboard sailing event at the 2011 Pan American Games will be held from October 17–23 at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Puerto Vallarta. The defending Pan American Games champion is Ricardo Santos of Brazil.
The men's Laser class sailing event at the 2011 Pan American Games will be held from October 17–23 at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Puerto Vallarta. The defending Pan American Games champion is Andrew Campbell of the United States.
The women's sailboard competition of the sailing events at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara were held from October 17 to October 23 at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Puerto Vallarta. The defending champion was Dominique Vallee of Canada.
The women's Laser Radial class competition of the sailing events at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara were held from October 17 to October 23 at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Puerto Vallarta. The defending champion was Paige Railey of the United States.
The Sunfish class competition of the sailing events at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara were held from October 17 to October 23 at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Puerto Vallarta. The defending champion was Eduardo Cordero of Venezuela.
The Snipe class competition of the sailing events at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara took place from October 17 to October 23 at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Puerto Vallarta. The defending champion for the event was the Brazilian boat.
The Lightning class competition of the sailing events at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara were held from October 17 to October 23 at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Puerto Vallarta. The defending champion was the boat from Chile.
The Hobie 16 class competition of the sailing events at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara were held from October 17 to October 23 at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Puerto Vallarta. The defending champion was the boat from Guatemala.
The J/24 class competition of the sailing events at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara were held from October 17 to October 23 at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Puerto Vallarta. The defending champion was the boat from Brazil.
Canada competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to August 21, 2016. Since the nation's debut in 1900, Canadian athletes had appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games, with the exception of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow because of the country's support for the United States-led boycott. The chef de mission was Curt Harnett, appointed in April 2016 after Jean-Luc Brassard, the original chef de mission, resigned his position.
The women's Laser Radial competition of the sailing events at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto was held from July 12 to July 18 at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. The last champion was Cecilia Saroli of Argentina.
The men's laser competition of the sailing events at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto was held from July 12 to July 18 at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. The last champion was Julio Alsogaray of Argentina.
The women's RS:X competition of the sailing events at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto was held from July 12 to July 18 at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.
The men's RS:X competition of the sailing events at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto was held from July 12 to July 18 at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.
The women's 49erFX competition of the sailing events at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto was held from July 12 to July 18 at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.
The Sunfish competition of the sailing events at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto was held from July 12 to July 19 at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club. The last champion was Matheus Dellangnello of Brazil.
The Hobie 16 competition of the sailing events at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto was held from July 12 to July 19 at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.
The J/24 competition of the sailing events at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto was held from July 12 to July 19 at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.
The Lightning competition of the sailing events at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto was held from July 12 to July 19 at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.
