Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

World Sailing's bid to reinstate Para Sailing for LA28 met with mass support from global community

by World Sailing 24 Dec 2022 22:58 PST
World Sailing's bid to reinstate Para Sailing for LA28 met with mass support from global community © World Sailing / Sailing Energy

Since World Sailing launched its campaign to reinstate sailing into the Paralympic Games for LA28, the overriding message has been that sailing is a sport for all and is life-changing.

Sailing - present at every Paralympic Games since Atlanta 1996 to Rio 2016 - is also a global family, and this is why the #BacktheBid campaign to reinstate sailing into the Paralympic Games, has been met with universal support from the international sailing community.

Bouwe Bekking, round the world sailing legend, eight-time competitor in The Ocean Race, and multiple world champion from The Netherlands, said, "Sailing is a sport for everyone and is very social. In the last five years there has been a 30% increase in the number of participants in international Para Sailing events, it is clear that it is super popular. So, give Para Sailors another chance to get to the pinnacle of our sport: the Paralympic Games!"

"All together we must support the Para sport movement in sailing and bring this beautiful sport back to the highest possible level, at the Paralympic Games! The athletes, the technicians, the federations and all the young Para Sailors who have the dream of the Paralympic Games deserve it!!" - Francesca Clapcich, two-time Olympian, World Champion, Round the World Sailor.

Xu Lijia, Laser Radial gold medallist at London 2012 Olympics, who was born with a hearing impairment, explained the role sailing had in her life.

She said, "Sailing gave me a goal to strive for, and it was the Olympics that made me realise the value of my life. Therefore, I firmly believe that sailing at the Paralympic Games will help a large number of people with disabilities around the world to find unlimited freedom and fun."

The importance of visible role models was highlighted by Max Sirena, Team Director and Skipper of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, Italian Challenger for the 37th America's Cup.

He said, "Reintegrating sailing at the Paralympic Games, in my opinion, is a duty, both towards those who have contributed to writing important pages of this sport, and to the thousands of disabled girls and boys from all over the world who, seeing the flag of their country waving on the podium think: I can do it too."

"Para Sailing offers people across the entire classification spectrum the opportunity to compete at the highest levels. It is a sport where gender can be made irrelevant through equipment selection, where men and women can compete on a level playing field. Para Sailing can and does enable disabled people to live fuller lives on and off the water." - Jo Aleh, Olympic Gold and Silver Medallist, Olympic Coach, Chair of World Sailing Athletes Commission.

Quentin Delapierre, an experienced Olympic and offshore sailor, and current driver of the France SailGP team, said, "For me the Olympic Games were really a dream, I wanted to get a medal. This goal really guided me in all my training before the games, to hurt myself, to go all the way and I learned a lot from it. The Paralympic Games must rediscover or re-trust their values and reintegrate sailing."

The Switzerland SailGP Team has proudly supported the #BacktheBid message throughout Season 3, and Sebastien Schneiter, two-time Olympian and Driver of the team, lent his support to the campaign.

He said, "Para Sailing is one of the most inclusive and diverse sports there is, and it offers so much to so many people. Having a pathway from grassroots through to the very top is one of the best ways to continue to grow and develop it. It's so important to have sailing represented at the Paralympic Games."

A decision on whether sailing will return in Los Angeles is expected by the end of January 2023, and World Sailing CEO David Graham has already reaffirmed support for the sport even if the application is unsuccessful.

In the meantime, with the support of international sailors across all disciplines, sailing has come together to champion #BacktheBid and shown that regardless of the outcome, the sport has a bright future.

Related Articles

2024 World Sailing Awards judges panel revealed
11 global sporting figures will form the judging panel World Sailing has announced the 11 global sporting figures who will form the judging panel for this year's World Sailing Awards. Posted on 3 Oct
Sustainability Sessions season 2 line up revealed
World Sailing events will be free, open to anyone, and expert-led World Sailing's Sustainability Sessions is returning for second season with 14 new topics designed to empower Member National Authorities, Classes, event organisers, sailing clubs and anyone involved in the sport to improve their sustainability. Posted on 3 Oct
Paris Olympians elected to WS Athletes' Committee
The World Sailing Athletes' Committee is comprised of nine members and meets annually in person Following the conclusion of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, five international sailors have been elected to the World Sailing Athletes' Committee where they will serve as the athlete voice throughout the Federation. Posted on 16 Aug
Raining in Paris, but who will reign in Marseille?
The start of competition is looking like it will be on the lighter side While the rain has been falling in Paris, it's been hot and getting hotter for the build-up to the start of the Olympic Regatta in sunny Marseille. Posted on 27 Jul
Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony
Record-breaking number of sailors picked as flag bearers The Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony will be a historic occasion for sailing as an Olympic sport, with 13 nautical athletes selected as flag bearers at the showpiece spectacle. Posted on 26 Jul
World Sailing Awards set to honour the very best
Nominate now for Rolex World Sailor of the Year award and more The World Sailing Awards 2024 will take place on Tuesday 5 November to celebrate excellence and achievement in sailing at a gala ceremony at Singapore's historic CHIJMES Hall. Posted on 10 Jul
World Sailing invites passionate sailors
To shape the future of the sport World Sailing is seeking people with a passion for sailing to help shape the future of the sport by applying to be members of its commissions and committees. Posted on 21 Jun
"Truly inclusive" landmark Para Inclusive Strategy
World Sailing is targeting a return to the Paralympic Games World Sailing is targeting a return to the Paralympic Games after publishing its first Para Inclusive Strategy which will guide the growth of the sport through to 2029. Posted on 18 Jun
World Sailing marks World Oceans Day
By publishing first annual Sustainability Report World Sailing has published its first annual Sustainability Report to provide a comprehensive progress update on all 56 of the federation's Sustainability Agenda 2030 targets. Posted on 7 Jun
2026-27 World Sailing Championships host announced
Valencia in Spain and Gdynia in Poland host new format split event World Sailing has selected the cities of Valencia in Spain and Gdynia in Poland to host the 2026-2027 World Sailing Championships as the event moves to a split format for the first time. Posted on 6 Jun
North Sails Performance 2023 - FOOTER37th AC Store 2024 - 728x90 BOTTOMMaritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTER