Showcasing inclusivity in sport of sailing
Published on January 10th, 2025
The inaugural World Sailing Inclusion Championships will be held in 2025, providing an event to celebrate and showcase inclusivity in the sport of sailing with a focus on disability.
The event will highlight the diverse community of sailors with disabilities, removing barriers to participation, all whilst enabling Para classified athletes to compete alongside other athletes with disabilities that do not classify under the IPC Classification code.
World Sailing is now inviting hosting bids for the 2025 and 2026 editions from around the world.
The World Sailing Inclusion Championships aligns with World Sailing’s recently unveiled Para Inclusive Strategy for 2024-29. It also marks an opportunity for the Para and Para preferred classes to host their class World Championships within the Inclusion Championship, as well as offering the hosts an opportunity for development and demonstration events.
The new Para Inclusive Strategy marks a significant shift in World Sailing’s approach, focusing on ensuring that everyone, regardless of physical ability, background, or experience, has equal opportunities to participate and excel in sailing. This festival-style Championship event hopes to offer a unique platform to demonstrate that sailing is truly a sport for all.
“The World Sailing Inclusion Championships represent a bold and exciting step forward for our sport,” said World Sailing Head of International Development, Fiona Kidd . “By inviting our global community to host this event, we are not only fostering greater inclusion but also showcasing the incredible diversity and spirit of sailing.
“We are excited to introduce the event to our growing schedule of Para Inclusive Sailing events and encourage Members to join us in making history and be part of the first Inclusion Championships—a global celebration of inclusivity in sailing.”
Bidders will have until January 31, 2025 to submit their bids to World Sailing. A copy of the bid document can be obtained by emailing Hannah Stodel, hannah.stodel@sailing.org.
Source: World Sailing