Showing up tells the real story

The inaugural World Sailing Inclusion Championships was to celebrate the diverse community of sailors with disabilities, and while there were winners and losers during the racing in Oman on December 4-8, it was much more than just a regatta.

“This championship is not merely a sporting competition; it carries a profound humanitarian message that reinforces the principle that sport is a right for all — a right enshrined in the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” notes His Excellency Dr Laila bint Ahmed Al-Najjar, Minister of Social Development for the Oman government.

“This law ensures their empowerment and facilitates their equal participation with others in camps and in cultural, sporting, and recreational activities at the local, regional, and international levels, ultimately contributing to strengthening their active engagement in society and achieving full and effective inclusion.”

One hundred twenty-seven participants from 28 nations competed in four divisions.

“Sailors came from every corner of the globe, arriving with determination, joy, and the fierce competitive spirit that defines Para Inclusive Sailing. Whether this was your first event or your fiftieth, you have been nothing short of inspirational,” said World Sailing Para Sailing Manager Hannah Stodel.

“This week we saw courage, tactical brilliance, grit, heartbreak, triumph, and some of the purest sailing I’ve ever witnessed. Medals tell one story - but showing up tells the real one. And every single one of you showed up. For yourselves. For your teams. For Para Inclusive Sailing. For the future.

“This championship marks a turning point. A bold, unapologetic statement that Para Inclusive Sailing belongs on the world stage - not hidden, not sidelined, but central to our sport’s future. We are building something monumental together.”

Details: https://www.sailing.org/world-sailing-inclusion-championships/