The time is now…Para Sailing thriving as World Sailing submits LA28 Paralympic application
World Sailing CEO David Graham reflects on the importance of Para Sailing to the Paralympic Games
“World Sailing’s ambition to be reinstated into the Paralympic Games started the moment it was removed. Today, we have reached a pivotal point as we submit our bid to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Over the last few years we have focused on growing participation numbers and I’m proud we can now say we have Para Sailors active in the sport from five continents representing 41 countries. We are fully committed to securing the future of the sport, and we’re excited to see it thrive over what has been a challenging few years for global sport in general.
Ultimately, Para Sailing is about people and the ability of sport to transform lives for the better. From grassroots to elite level, sailing gives people with disabilities an opportunity to do on water what would be impossible for them on land and experience the freedom that comes with sailing. I have seen this countless times for myself – most recently at the British National Championships in Derbyshire in June where I met a young disabled sailor who, through sailing, has found an activity in which he and his father can participate on an equal footing.
World Sailing is fully committed to the ongoing development of Para Sailing and our specialist Para Committee, led by USA’s Hall of Fame sailor Betsy Alison, is extremely active all around the world. While Para Sailing previously had its own federation, it is now fully integrated into World Sailing, and is also included in our combined annual World Championships for our Olympic classes. This will continue to be the case in the future, whatever the outcome of the application.
Our IPC application submission may be imminent, but our work will never stop. Our #BacktheBid campaign has clearly shown how much the wider sailing community is behind this movement; teams, events, Olympians, and sailing legends from all disciplines within the sport have got behind and actively supported the campaign. The motivation and support is huge from our passionate, active, global, and inclusive sailing community.
There is a very tough decision ahead for the IPC. But whatever the outcome, World Sailing is committed to continue to grow Para Sailing at every level, from grassroots to elite, supporting individuals and events around the world for a fairer and more inclusive society.”
| World Sailing’s first ever Para Kiteboarding Development Programme took place last week after four days of action on Lake Garda, Italy, where 11 coaches and athletes were put through their paces as part of World Sailing’s vision to increase the growth of Para Sailing globally. Top athletes and coaches from France, Iran, Italy, Netherlands and USA convened at the Univela Sailing Club in Campione del Garda from 23-26 June for on-water and classroom sessions to build out an international competition and growth framework for Para Kiteboarding. |
Sustainability spotlight – Q&A with Paralympian Jackie Gay
Paralympic silver medallist, Sail Canada Team of the Year winner and published author, Jackie Gay started to sail competitively in 2006, taking up Paralympic sailing and rising quickly through the ranks in the SKUD 18 and 2.4mR classes. Along with her husband John McRoberts they won the silver medal together at the 2016 Paralympic Games – for which she and John received the Sail Canada Rolex Sailor of the Year Award.
Jackie has a strong affinity with nature and the impact of human activity on the environment is a high priority for her home town of Victoria, British Columbia. The city, which sits on the southern end of Vancouver Island, declaskudred a climate emergency in March 2019 and has since implemented measures designed to promote sustainability with a focus on reducing emissions, preserving the city’s tree canopy and diverting recyclable waste away from landfill.
Taking on the message of sustainability, Jackie is now focusing on ways in which sailing can become more environmentally conscious.
Para Sailor Spotlight – Willem Hooft
He discovered the sport in 2017, after a motorbike accident left him requiring use of a wheelchair. Never one to be held back, his big dream during his rehabilitation was to kitesurf the waves of South Africa – which he not only did, but conquered – recording the biggest ever jump on a sit-kiteboard while in Cape Town.
As founder of the The Willem Hooft Foundation, his mission is to promote the sport of sit-kitesurfing, and to make the sport more accessible to people with disabilities. He gives motivational talks worldwide about personal leadership, dealing with setbacks and living life to its fullest potential.
Willem says kiteboarding and being on the water allows him a feeling of freedom he can’t get elsewhere. We caught up with him to find out more.
Guest editorial: Robert Glover shines light on African sailing
“I’ve skateboarded since when I can remember – flying around on a ‘baby’ board was much more fun than being in a wheelchair,” explained Glover. “My spine is not technically connected to my hips, my legs are underdeveloped as a consequence – this is sacral agenisis. As a kid I never thought of it as an advantage, but now I do – I don’t have to do anything extraordinary to stand out! Where I really get to be myself is when I’m doing sports – and being on the water is where I get my speed fix and flex my competitive muscles.”
Sailing – where it all began
“It all started when I was 11, pushed out in an Optimist into Walvis Bay, home to dolphins, whales and Cape Fur Seals and busy with fishing boats and ships. First of all I had to master being a “lighty” – even now I’m only 32 kilos and one metre tall more or less. I’ve been obsessed with sailing ever since.”
And this obsession led to him being talent spotted at a performance clinic in Mossel Bay on South Africa’s Western Cape Province by World Sailing’s Emerging Nations coach Rob Holden.
“Robert doesn’t see barriers – anything is possible – and that’s what struck me back in 2017 when we met for the first time,” explains Holden.
| #BacktheBid Social Relay |
| Last month, World Sailing launched a social media relay, calling on the global sailing community to get behind #BackTheBid – and they more than rose to the challenge! Get involved! Check out the examples below and film your own. Don’t forget to nominate two people to keep the campaign going too! |
Massimo Dighe, Para Sailing Manager since 2016, reflects on his career at World Sailing
A Paralympian who represented Italy in sailing, competing in the Sonar Class at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, was during his time with World Sailing in charge of the integration of Para Sailing into the World Sailing structure and events, as well as the development and promotion of the sport.
Going out on a high at the first ever Para Kite Development Programme in Lake Garda, Italy, we sat down with Dighe to reflect on his career so far, his incredible contribution to Para Sailing and the bid to see the sport reinstated in the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
| IN THE NEWS |
| International Paralympic Committee, 24 June Florida-based Frances Rivera has spent the last six years teaching people adaptive kiteboarding. Last week she became a student herself at the first ever development clinic in Para kiteboarding. Read more. Reuters, 28 June Dutch Para kiteboarder Willem Hooft was part of the Para Development Programme event exclusively for kiteboarding at Lake Garda, Italy, last week as the sport’s governing body World Sailing looks to nurture a discipline showing plenty of promise. Read more. |
| UPCOMING EVENTS |
| Para Sailing World Championship The Para Sailing World Championship, held as part of the Virtus Oceania Asia Games 2022 at Southport Yacht Club on Australia’s Gold Coast from 5 – 11 November 2022, is ready to receive sailors from around the world. “This Para Sailing World Championship is an extremely special opportunity for athletes with intellectual impairments,” said David Staley, Vice President of World Sailing’s Para World Sailing Committee. “The World Sailing and Virtus partnership was formed with the aim of working jointly to promote the global growth of sailing amongst athletes with an intellectual impairment.” A series of four informational webinars will be held to inform clubs, coaches and sailors from Monday 25 July on the entry and eligibility requirements. If you are a sports administrator, coach, parent or guardian – or a sailor with friends who may be interested – visit Organising Authority Southport Yacht Club website & OA Games 2022/Para-Sailing for more information. See you in Brisbane #OAGames2022! |
Classification Seminar
Following a recent online refresher course for certified international classifiers, World Sailing will be organising two Classification training seminars this autumn, in conjunction with the Hansa World Championships in Hiroshima Japan in October, and the RS Venture Para World Championship in Muscat, Oman, one month later.
These Seminars are open to qualified doctors and physiotherapists, or appropriate health care professionals with considerable experience in examining persons with impairments. The objective of the seminars is to enable the trainees to acquire sufficient knowledge and hands-on experience to be able to classify sailors at a national level. This is also a first step to train to become an international classifier for sailing.
Seminar content will include the following topics:
- Classification process and methodology
- Active examination of athletes guided by a dedicated instructor
- Introduction to the PC Code
- Introduction to the World Anti-doping Agency Code
- How to access useful World Sailing Documents
- How to move forward as a Classifier
- Qualification test
Some of these subjects will be delivered on-line prior to the Seminar. Further details will be issued shortly, any questions and expressions of interest may be addressed to the World Sailing Head of Classification: Bernard Destrube, destrube.bernard@gmail.com.
