Sailing debut for FESPIC Games

by Courtesy ISAF on 29 May 2004 The 2006 Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC), which are to be held in the Kuala Lumpur, will for the first time include a specific sailing event as part of the competition.

As participation in disabled sailing grows in that area of the world, the event is being considered as a developmental competition and will be sailed in the Access Liberty, of which 18 will be supplied at the event for competitors entering.

As a development sport at the event, and as disabled sailing is still in a developing form in FESPIC countries, the competition will be open to any sailor who is able to be classified under the IFDS Functional Classification System.

The format of the event will be completely new and will be a team event consisting of one sailor from each of the following classifications:

1. Classification 1, sailing full servo

2. Any Classification, sailing manual or servo

3. Able body

There are already Australian 470 sailors eager to compete and we expect great interest from all over the world in this never before attempted concept of a fully inclusive sailing event. Two teams will race at one time, ie six boats on the water at one time, with each team sailing against all other teams.

FESPIC Games have been held since 1975. Disabled athletes from the South Pacific and Asia are eligible to compete. The most recent games were held in Bangkok, Thailand in January of 1999, one short month after the conclusion of the Asian Games.

The FESPIC and Asian Games had adopted the strategy used by the Olympic and Paralympic Games of having both games in the same city. The 2002 Asian Games and 2002 FESPIC Games were held in the city of Pusan, South Korea.

However, in 2006, the games will once again be held in different locations, The Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, The FESPIC Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Further details are available on the FESPIC website at the address below.

FESPIC: www.internationalgames.net/fespic.htm